What anti-epileptic drugs are not suitable for patients with glioma?

  Phenobarbital, phenytoin sodium, carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine have hepatic enzyme-inducing effects, and various types of wine and alcoholic beverages have similar effects, which can reduce the blood concentration of other drugs and diminish their efficacy. Patients with malignant glioma (grade III or IV) requiring postoperative chemotherapy should not use the above-mentioned antiepileptic drugs and should not drink alcohol while taking the drugs to prevent them from reducing the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs. If the combination is necessary, the dose of chemotherapy drugs should be increased. However, increasing the dose of chemotherapy drugs can significantly increase the toxic side effects of the drugs and seriously endanger health. Anti-epileptic treatment for glioma patients can be given with drugs such as sodium valproate, lamotrigine or levetiracetam that do not affect the activity of liver enzymes. Blood levels, blood tests, and liver and kidney function should be tested regularly while taking antiepileptic drugs. Antiepileptic drugs need to be tapered over several weeks when discontinued and should not be discontinued immediately to prevent recurrence of epilepsy.