Carbamazepine levels in pregnancy and lactation

An epileptic patient whose seizures were controlled with carbamazepine and primidone was followed throughout pregnancy and lactation. Blood levels of primidone decreased during pregnancy and rose postpartum requiring dosage adjustments. Pharmacologically insignificant amounts of the drug were detected in breast milk. A review of the literature revealed 94 infants exposed to carbamazepine in utero and no evidence to date that this drug carries a teratogenic risk.