[Generalized side effects with the use of carbamazepine]

Since 1973, 42 cases of generalized adverse reactions to carbamazepine were reported to the Netherlands Centre for Monitoring of Adverse Reactions to Drugs and the Belgian Centre for Drug Monitoring. The organ involvement can be very diverse in an allergic reaction to carbamazepine. Serious and protracted disturbances in pulmonary diffusion capacity may be present even in the absence of changes on the chest X-ray. Analysis of the type IV mechanism involved suggests that caution is warranted with regard to administration of other drugs during the acute phase of the allergic reaction particularly if these drugs have a propensity to cause type IV allergic reactions themselves.