Carbamazepine Test

Carbamazepine is a blood test that measures the amount of drug oxcarbazepine present in the blood. Carbamazepine is a drug that is administered to treat certain seizure disorders, commonly known as epilepsy. It is helpful for patients with bipolar disease to calm their moods, reduce alcohol withdrawal, and relieve some types of nerve pain. The Carbamazepine test measures the level of this drug in the given blood sample. As the drug has to be within a specific therapeutic range. Carbamazepine levels need constant monitoring. The drug may not be helpful if the value is too low, and the person may experience a repeat of symptoms (e.g., seizures, mania, or pain). On the other hand, if the level increases, the person may experience hazardous side effects. For a variety of reasons, maintaining a therapeutic dose of this medicine can be challenging to achieve. One of them is carbamazepine oral dosages that are absorbed at varying rates in the digestive system. Conditions that alter the drug's ability to attach to proteins have an impact on its therapeutic effectiveness. This can happen in case of low blood albumin, kidney failure, or in a newborn or elderly. Several medicines may interact with carbamazepine and influence the body’s metabolism and blood levels if used together. Carbamazepine doses need careful monitoring to achieve a constant blood concentration, therefore there is a need to perform Carbamazepine tests frequently. Carbamazepine is used to treat chronic illnesses such as epilepsy, bipolar disorder, trigeminal neuralgia, and diabetic nerve pain. It needs frequent evaluation over time. Bipolar disorder is a mental illness marked by recurrent episodes of depression and mania that can last days, weeks, months, or even years. Carbamazepine is useful in helping people with bipolar disorder, particularly mania, and in regulating their mood. Epilepsy is a long-term illness that necessitates ongoing treatment. Globally, 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, out of which close to 10 million people with epilepsy live in India, accounting for nearly one-sixth of the total. In India, the prevalence of epilepsy ranges from 4.15 to 7.03 per 1000 people. When compared to other psychiatric illnesses, bipolar disorder has a prevalence of 6.9% in India. Carbamazepine is a licensed psychiatric drug that manages epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and other psychological disorders. It is used to manage trigeminal neuralgia as well. Diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, which affects 10-20% of a person’s functionality, mood, and sleep habits, is also regulated by carbamazepine. Therefore, carbamazepine testing has become essential.