Antiepileptic Drug Intoxication: Factors and Their Significance

A retrospective chart review (1979-1985) was performed to identify probable causes of intoxication with anitepileptic drugs (AEDs). The causes inepileptic patients were iatrogenic,inappropriate dose self-adjustment, suicide attempts, etc. The causes for nonepileptic patients were suicide attempts, accidental ingestion & iatrogenic. The authors conclude that AED intoxication is a major but preventable cause of morbidity, & that suicide attempts are an important & underrecognized contributor.(VM)