Effects of carbamazepine on cerebrospinal fluid somatostatin.

This paper reports the reduction of the concentration of the neuropeptide somatostatin in the CSF of patients with affective illness during treatment with the anticonvulsant carbamazepine. None of the other psychotropic agents used in this study similarly affected CSF somatostatin, although zimelidine appeared to increase CSF somatostatin in a small number of patients. The potential mechanism and significance of the effects of carbamazepine on CSF somatostatin are discussed in relation to the psychotropic, anticonvulsant, and analgesic properties of carbamazepine.