**5.3 Carbamazepine**

Carbamazepine is a mainly antiepileptic psychotropic drug whose mechanism of action is based on reducing glutamate release, reducing the permeability of neuronal membranes to Na+ and K+ ions, stabilizing neuronal membranes, and depressing dopamine and norepinephrine turnover, though an inhibitory effect on muscarinic and nicotinic receptors is also known [49]. When its therapeutic plasma concentrations are higher than 10 μg/ml, it produces toxic effects initially characterized by tachycardia, hypotension and hypertension, lethargy, ataxia, dysarthria, and nystagmus can occur, there are also gastric alterations such as vomiting and nausea. When intoxication is severe, it could even cause a coma [50]. Carbamazepine absorption is digestive, metabolized in the liver where it can cause liver dysfunction and, as its elimination is via the kidneys, adverse effects can also occur in this way [51].
