A 26-year-old woman with a history of focal seizures with impaired awareness presents with increased seizure frequency. She is on carbamazepine. She h...

Question

A 26-year-old woman with a history of focal seizures with impaired awareness presents with increased seizure frequency. She is on carbamazepine. She had two episodes of fever and rash last week after a dose increase. Labs show mild leukopenia. What is the most appropriate next step?

Accepted Answer

Increase carbamazepine further

Answer

Continue current dose and add another antiseizure drug

Answer

Discontinue carbamazepine and switch to another agent

Answer

Treat with steroids and continue carbamazepine

Answer

No change; this is a benign reaction

us-abim MCQ (SBA): Focal Epilepsy Adverse Drug Reaction

A 26-year-old woman with a history of focal seizures with impaired awareness presents with increased seizure frequency. She is on carbamazepine. She had two episodes of fever and rash last week after a dose increase. Labs show mild leukopenia. What is the most appropriate next step?