Thyroid Function in Epileptic Children who Receive Carbamazepine, Primidone, Phenobarbital and Valproic Acid

Objective In this study, we investigated the changes of the serum levels of thyroid hormones including Thyroxine (T4), Triiodothyronine (T3), T3 resin uptake and Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in epileptic children during treatment with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) including carbamazepine (CBZ), primidone (PRM), phenobarbital and valproic acid (VPA). Materials and Methods This study consisted of four case-series comparisons, was conducted on 115 epileptic children (37 girls and 78 boys with an age range between 2 months and 15 years, mean: 62.06 plus or minus 44.97 months). These children were divided into 4 groups who took either phenobarbital (n=29), PRM (n=28), CBZ(n=29), or VPA(n=29) for 3 months. Thyroid hormone levels (T3, T3 resin uptake, T4 and TSH) were measured at the beginning and there months after starting the study. Result At first, all patients were euthyroid and there were no clinical or laboratory findings suggestive of hypothyroidism. Regarding thyroid hormones before and after the administration of phenobarbital, carbamazepine, valproic acid and primidone, there were no significant changes in serum T3, T4, T3 resin uptake and TSH kevels. Conclusion Our finding showed that short term therapy with phenobarbital, carbamazepine, valproic acid and primidone had no effect on thyroid function tests.