Vitamin C Protects Against Blood and Thyroid Toxicities Induced by the Chronic Use of Carbamazepine in Rats

Drugs are the mainstay of the clinical management of epilepsy. Carbamazepine (CBZ) is commonly used for treating epilepsy and neuropathic pain. This drug has been reported to have toxic effects on the hematological system due to its induction of oxidative stress. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of vitamin C against hematological and thyroid toxicities caused by the chronic use of carbamazepine in male Wistar rats.

Thirty-two adult Wistar rats were categorized randomly into four groups of eight rats each and treated as follows: Group 1 received distilled water (2 mL/kg); group 2 was treated with vitamin C (100 mg/kg); group 3 received carbamazepine (20 mg/kg), and group 4 was pre-treated with vitamin C (100 mg/kg) and given carbamazepine (20 mg/kg) 30 min later. All treatments were administered via gavage once per day over fifteen consecutive weeks. The rats’ blood samples were tested for changes in hematological parameters while the sera were evaluated for liver biochemical enzymes and thyroid hormone levels.

The results revealed that pre-treatment with vitamin C protected against alterations in parameters associated with hematological and thyroid toxicities. 

Based on the study results, it was concluded that: a) The chronic use of CBZ caused hematological and thyroid toxicities, and b) Vitamin C protected against these toxicities. Therefore, it is highly likely that vitamin C has the potential to protect experimental animals against injuries induced by CBZ to the liver, blood cells, and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis in a Wistar rat model.