Letter to the Editor

Hyponatremia Due to an Additive Effect of Carbamazepine and Clarithromycin

Authors: Mehmet Kanbay, MD, Mehmet Alkis, MD, Faruk Turgut, MD, Ebru Uz, MD, Nuket Bavbek, MD, Ali Akcay, Assoc Prof

Abstract

To the Editor:


Both carbamazepine (CBZ) and clarithromycin are commonly prescribed drugs. CBZ is a first-line antiepileptic drug and has multiple other off-label uses. CBZ-induced hyponatremia has been described in the literature.1,2 However, to our knowledge, a possible interaction between CBZ and clarithromycin for hyponatremia has not been described.

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References

1. Dong X, Leppik IE, White J, et al. Hyponatremia from oxcarbazepine and carbamazepine. Neurology 2005;65:1976–1978.
 
2. Kuz GM, Manssourian A. Carbamazepine-induced hyponatremia: assessment of risk factors. Ann Pharmacother 2005;39:1943–1946.
 
3. Ranta A, Wooten GF. Hyponatremia due to an additive effect of carbamazepine and thiazide diuretics. Epilepsia 2004;45:879.
 
4. Alegre Herrera S, Araujo Sanabria J, Rubio Rubio JM. Clarithromycin-carbamazepine interaction: neurological symptoms and hyponatremia. Ann Med Interna 1998;15:48–49.
 
5. Naranjo CA, Busto U, Sellers EM, et al. A method for estimating the probability of adverse drug reactions. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1981;30:239–245.Letters to the Editor