Hair copper and zinc contents were measured in 95 handicapped children aged from 4 to 17 years and 48 age- and sex-matched control children. The patients consisted of 5 groups: children untreated with anticonvulsants (n = 7), those treated with phenytoin and phénobarbital (n = 32), those treated with phenytoin, phénobarbital and diazepam (n = 18), those treated with diazepam alone (n = 16) and those treated with phénobarbital alone (n = 12). The patients were all institutionalized in the same medical care unit and received the same diet, containing decreased amounts of copper (75% of control) and sufficient amounts of zinc. The patients belonging to all of the 5 groups had less amounts of hair copper (p < 0.05) and erythrocyte hemoglobin (p < 0.01) in comparison to controls. The patients receiving diazepam alone or in addition to other anticonvulsants had significantly less hair zinc content (p < 0.05) in comparison to controls or other patient groups. Thus, diazepam seemed to have an adverse effect, producing zinc deficiency.

Keywords:
Anticonvulsant drugs, Zinc, Copper
1983
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.