Question
Carbamazepine
Q43 marksShort Notes
Answer
Carbamazepine is an iminostilbene antiepileptic drug.
Mechanism of action
- Blocks voltage-gated sodium channels, stabilizing them in the inactivated state
- Reduces sustained high-frequency repetitive neuronal firing
Uses
- Partial (focal) seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures
- Trigeminal neuralgia (drug of choice)
- Bipolar disorder (mood stabilizer)
- Diabetes insipidus (central) — antidiuretic effect
Adverse effects
- Sedation, dizziness, diplopia, ataxia
- Hepatotoxicity
- Aplastic anaemia, agranulocytosis (rare but serious)
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome (higher risk with HLA-B*1502 allele)
- Hyponatraemia (SIADH-like effect)
- Potent enzyme inducer — reduces efficacy of oral contraceptives and other co-administered drugs
- Teratogenic (neural tube defects)
- 1Antiepileptics
Other Years Asked
- 1(2023 January (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme)Essay · 15 marks
- 2Classify Antiepileptic drugs. Explain the mechanism of action, therapeutic uses and
adverse effects of Sodium Valproate. (3+3)2025 March (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Essay · 6 marks
- 3Classify antiepileptic drugs. Describe the mechanism of action and adverse effects of
phenytoin (2+2+2)2019 July (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Essay · 6 marks
- 4A 30-year-old male was brought to the emergency department reporting a sudden
onset of generalised tonic clonic convulsions and fall, in the nearby supermarket. His
blood pressure and electrolytes were found to be normal. A diagnosis of generalised
tonic clonic seizure was made.2024 August (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Essay · 6 marks
- 5A 28 years old man, while working on his computer in an IT company, suddenly went
blank, fell down and appeared to be unconscious. He regains consciousness in the
next 5 minutes but was confused and could not remember what happened. When he
consulted a neurologist, he was diagnosed to have absence seizures. Answer the
following:2014 March (2010 Scheme)Essay · 6 marks
- 6Classify antiepileptic drugs. Explain the mechanism of action, uses and adverse effects
of phenytoin and sodium valproate. List four drugs used in status epilepticus.
(2+3+1)2021 December (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Essay · 6 marks
- 7Enumerate the newer drugs used in the treatment of epilepsy. Write the mechanism of
action of any two agents. Discuss the line of management of Status Epilepticus.
(2+2+2)2020 February (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Essay · 6 marks
- 8A one-year-old boy with febrile seizures was brought to the emergency department.
(2022 October (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Essay · 6 marks
- 9Enumerate four groups of antiepileptic drugs with examples of each. Mention four newer anti
epileptics. Describe the pharmacological actions, adverse effects and therapeutic uses of any
one of them. (2 + 2+ 2 = 6)2016 February (2010 Scheme)Essay · 6 marks
- 10Briefly describe the mechanism of action, uses and adverse effects of sodium valproate.2025 March (Supplementary (SAY)) (2019 Scheme)Short Answer · 4 marks
- 11Sodium valproate2022 May (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Note · 3 marks
- 12Sodium valproate2024 March (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Note · 3 marks
- 13Lamotrigine2017 February (2010 Scheme)Short Note · 3 marks
- 14Phenytoin2023 March (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Note · 3 marks
- 15Carbamazepine2023 July (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Note · 3 marks
- 16Valproic acid2019 February (2010 Scheme)Short Note · 3 marks
- 17Carbamazepine2021 February (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
- 18Phenytoin sodium.2025 August (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
- 19Status epilepticus.2016 October (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
- 20In treatment of absence seizures2018 February (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
- 21Drugs for absence seizures2021 May (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 0.3 marks
- 22 Carbamazepine in treatment of Trigeminal neuralgia
Name the following (Two examples for each): (5x1=5)2024 March (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 0.3 marks
- 23Antiepileptic drugs2022 July (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme)Short Answer · 0.2 marks
- 24Drugs used in Absence seizures.2023 July (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme)Short Answer · 0.2 marks
