Effect of single doses of sodium valproate on serum phenytoin levels and protein binding in epileptic patients.

Our study underlines the importance of performing protein binding interaction studies in vivo. Predictions from in vitro studies may be misleading because they may not take into account the kinetics of the drug in the whole animal. Probably the most important clinical implication of these findings is that total serum phenytoin levels may fall when sodium valproate is added to therapy and this may lead to an increase in dose under the mistaken belief that the effect of the drug has been reduced. Since it is the bound and not the free drug which is reduced, phenytoin intoxication may result from this misguided action.