Carbamazepine‐Induced Severe Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions: A 21‐Year Comparison Between Children and Adults in Malaysia

Abstract

Severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions (SCARs) are a life‐threatening condition. We aimed to identify all carbamazepine‐induced SCARs voluntarily reported to the Malaysian pharmacovigilance database and to compare between children and adults. Adverse drug reaction reports for carbamazepine were extracted from 2000 to 2020, and divided into 2 groups, that is, children (aged 0–17 years) and adults (aged 18 years and above). Age, sex, race, and carbamazepine dose were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Of 1102 carbamazepine adverse drug reaction reports, 416 reports were SCARs (99 children, 317 adults). Stevens–Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis were the main SCAR types for both age groups. Median time‐to‐onset for any type of SCAR was 13 days, regardless of age. In children, Malay individuals were 3.6 times more likely to report SCARs (95% confidence interval, 1.356–9.546; P = .010) compared to the Chinese population. In adults, carbamazepine‐induced SCARs were reported as 3.6 times higher in those with a daily dose of 200 mg or less as compared to a daily dose of 400 mg or more. (95% confidence interval, 2.257–5.758; P < .001) Carbamazepine‐induced SCARs reported in Malaysia were predominantly Stevens–Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis, with the majority in Malay individuals. Initiation therapy needs close monitoring between 2 weeks and 1 month.