HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Correspondence: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Goldberg, M. A. Articles by Todoroff, T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Goldberg, M. A. Articles by Todoroff, T.

Brain binding of anticonvulsants

Carbamazepine and valproic acid

Departments of Neurology (Dr. Goldberg), and Pharmacology (Dr. Todoroff), Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, UCLA School of Medicine, Torrance, CA.

We investigated the binding of radioactive carbamazepine and valproic acid to brain homogenates, lipid-free extracts, brain lipid, and phospholipid fractions. Carbamazepine was bound to each of these components in a manner that is qualitatively indistinguishable from the binding of phenytoin, in spite of major physical-chemical differences in these molecules but consistent with the similarities in pharmacologic action. These data support the concept that protein and phospholipid binding may be required for the activity of membrane-stabilizing anticonvulsants. Neither valproic acid nor its metabolites exhibited binding to brain or to any of the individual components tested. Therefore, binding cannot explain the reported long duration of action of this drug.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Goldberg, Department of Neurology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, 1000 West Carson Street, Torrance. CA 90509.

Accepted for publication October 29, 1979.

Presented in part at the thirty-first annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, Chicago, April 1979.