Brainstem auditory evoked potentials in epileptics on different anti-epileptic drugs

The effects of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) on brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) were studied on 32 female patients of epilepsy and 10 age-matched normal healthy females (NS). The patients were divided into 6 groups, those not receiving medication (drug free, DF) and those receiving AEDs: Phenytoin (PHT), Carbamazepine (CBZ), Phenobarbital (PB), a combination of PHT and PB and a combination of CBZ and PB. DF epileptics had shortened were V absolute latency (AL) and I-V interpeak latency (IPL) as compared to NS. Phenytoin and CBZ monotherapy produced a prolongation of wave III AL (by PHT only), wave V AL, wave I-III IPL and I-V IPL, as compared to DF epileptics. Phenytoin monotherapy also prolonged wave III AL and I-III IPL, as compared to NS. When PB in the dosage of 30-60 mg/d was used in combination with PHT the above mentioned changes were not observed. These findings indicate altered neuronal conduction and/or synaptic transmission in epileptics. Anti-epileptic drugs in the dosages studied, with exception of PHT appear to lead towards "normalization" of BAEPs.