Using beta-cyclodextrin as a mobile-phase additive, a column-switching chromatographic system equipped with two 25-mm short ODS cartridge columns and two UV detectors was successfully employed for the simultaneous determination of some antiepileptic drugs and their metabolites, including chiral compounds, in human serum. The compounds examined were phenobarbital, zonisamide, phenytoin and its metabolites, S- and R-5-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin, R- and S-mephobarbital, carbamazepine and its main metabolites, 10,11-dihydro-10-11-epoxycarbamazepine and trans-10,11-dihydroxy-10,11-dihydrocarbamazepine (as a racemate), and allobarbital (as an internal standard).