Anticonvulsants, folic acid and memory dysfunction in epileptics.

The results of a survey of 116 epileptic patients treated by monotherapy with phenytoin, carbamazepine and sodium valproate are described. No significant correlations were found between memory performance and serum anticonvulsant levels. However, correlations were found between memory performance and levels of red cell folate. The hypothesis that phenytoin may impair memory performance through the reduction of folate is discussed.