Worsening of symptoms of multiple sclerosis associated with carbamazepine

Carbamazepine is widely used to treat paroxysmal neurological symptoms and pain. We report on five patients with multiple sclerosis in whom disability was seriously enhanced by treatment with carbamazepine at comparatively low dosages. It is possible to misinterpret worsening of symptoms as an exacerbation of multiple sclerosis. A 48 year old man had had symptoms of multiple sclerosis for three years, at first intermittent but eventually progressive, with mainly ataxia and spastic weakness of the legs. He also had disabling oscillopsia …