Effects of Carbamazepine and Phenytoin on EEG and Memory in Healthy Adults

Summary: Using a randomized, double‐blind, cross over design, we investigated the effects of carbamazepine (CBZ) and phenytoin (PHT) on memory and spectral EEG components in 15 healthy adults. Each subject was treated with each drug for 1 month, separated by a 1‐month washout. Evaluations were conducted at baseline, at the end of each treatment month, and 1 month after the last treatment phase. EEG was collected during an eyes‐closed resting condition and a verbal memory activation task. Spectral analysis of the EEG in the nondrug conditions showed that the memory task significantly reduced theta components and increased delta components. As compared with nondrug conditions, the antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) significantly impaired memory performance and produced mild EEG slowing. Memory performance did not differ statistically between the AEDs, but minor differences in spectral EEG components were noted. The results suggest that differences in the cognitive and EEG effects of CBZ and PHT are not clinically significant.

[1]  V Diekmann,et al.  The frontal theta rhythm indicating motor and cognitive learning. , 1987, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology. Supplement.

[2]  C. Dodrill,et al.  Neuropsychological Abilities Before and After 5 Years of Stable Antiepileptic Drug Therapy , 1992, Epilepsia.

[3]  M. Rugg,et al.  EEG correlates of the acquisition of high- and low-imagery words , 1980, Neuroscience Letters.

[4]  K. Meador,et al.  Comparative cognitive effects of carbamazepine and phenytoin in healthy adults , 1991, Neurology.

[5]  K. Meador,et al.  The Contribution of an Imagery Code to Verbal Memory , 1990, Cortex.

[6]  M. Braekeleer.  Hereditary Disorders in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean (Quebec, Canada) , 1991 .

[7]  W. Lennox.  BRAIN INJURY, DRUGS, AND ENVIRONMENT AS CAUSES OF MENTAL DECAY IN EPILEPSY , 1942 .

[8]  T. Ishihara,et al.  Multivariate analytic study of EEG and mental activity in juvenile delinquents. , 1972, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[9]  V Diekmann,et al.  Slower theta activity over the midfrontal cortex in schizophrenic patients , 1990, Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica.

[10]  Changes in the EEG as the subject learns to recall , 1978, Biological Psychology.

[11]  M. Trimble,et al.  Anticonvulsant drugs and mental symptoms: a review , 1976, Psychological Medicine.

[12]  D. Dinner,et al.  Mental Deterioration in Epilepsy , 1986, Epilepsia.

[13]  M. Trimble.  Neurobehavioral effects of anticonvulsants. , 1991, JAMA.

[14]  H. Kornhuber,et al.  Event-related EEG-spectra in a concept formation task. , 1988, Human neurobiology.

[15]  K. Meador,et al.  Comparative cognitive effects of anticonvulsants , 1990, Neurology.

[16]  J Volavka,et al.  Mental arithmetic and eye opening. An EEG frequency analysis and GSR study. , 1967, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[17]  M A B BRAZIER,et al.  Cross-correlation and autocorrelation studies of electroencephalographic potentials. , 1952, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[18]  M. Corsi-Cabrera,et al.  EEG activity during performance of cognitive tasks demanding verbal and/or spatial processing. , 1988, The International journal of neuroscience.

[19]  J. Cramer,et al.  Results of a Nationwide Veterans Administration Cooperative Study Comparing the Efficacy and Toxicity of Carbamazepine, Phenobarbital, Phenytoin, and Primidone , 1987, Epilepsia.

[20]  M. Tanaka,et al.  Periodic appearance of theta rhythm in the frontal midline area during performance of a mental task. , 1980, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[21]  C. Dodrill,et al.  Neuropsychological effects of carbamazepine and phenytoin , 1991, Neurology.

[22]  J. Doyle,et al.  Electroencephalogram correlates of higher cortical functions. , 1979, Science.

[23]  A. Mundy-castle,et al.  The electroencephalogram and mental activity. , 1957, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.