Effects of Carbamazepine on Cardiovascular System: Literature Review

Abstract

Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant that is commonly used in neurological and psychiatric patients to treat epileptic seizures, neuropathic pain, or bipolar disorder. Carbamazepine side effects, as well as side effects of many antiepileptic drugs, include cardiotoxic effects such as atrioventricular block, bradycardia, and cardiac rhythm disorders. However, carbamazepine has also been reported to have antiarrhythmic, normotimic, and membrane-stabilizing effects. This results in its administration to treat arrhythmias in children. Based on literature, carbamazepine administration as anti-arrhythmic drug is known in cases where the basic therapy was ineffective. The medication is not registered anywhere in the world for this purpose. Thus, it can be administered only off-label. The aim of our literature review is to analyze and summarize the existing data on carbamazepine effects on cardiovascular system, to determine its safety as anti-arrhythmic drug, and to describe various factors fostering its side effects.