Specimen Requirements

Title

PRIMIDONE (MYSOLINE®)

Specimen Requirement

1 Plain Red Top/1.0 mL serum. Centrifuge, separate and refrigerate. Do not use SST tube.

Methodology

Stability

Room Temperature 48 hours, Refrigerated 14 days, Frozen 14 days

Reference Range

By Report*

Turnaround

1-3 days Performed Mon-Fri

Clinical Use

This deoxybarbiturate is closely related chemically to the barbiturates. It is converted to two active metabolites, phenobarbital and phenylethylmalonamide (PEMA). Primidone is used principally in generalized tonic-clonic and complex and simple partial seizures; some clinicians believe that the drug has specific usefulness for complex partial seizures. It is as effective as carbamazepine or phenytoin in controlling partial or generalized tonic-clonic seizures, although a greater incidence of adverse reactions, especially during initial therapy, limits patient acceptance. Primidone is commonly given with phenytoin but monotherapy is preferred. The conversion of primidone to phenobarbital is significantly increased when this drug is used with other antiepileptic medication. It is not effective in absence seizures.

Test Code

PRIMW