ADVANTAGES OF BROAD SPECTRUM ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUGS IN TREATMENT OF EPILEPSY

Abstract

Pharmacotherapy of epilepsy requires deep knowledge of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), including the following issues: spectrum of therapeutic efficacy and therapeutic strength, adverse effects (especially severe and life-threatening adverse reactions); specific features of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and drug interactions; titration rate, the need for laboratory tests during treatment, pharmacoeconomic components. The main properties of antiepileptic drugs are defined by their mechanisms of action. Today, particular attention is paid to the drugs with broad spectrum activity, which give an ability to use them in patients with so-called undifferentiated epilepsies. In this article, the authors describe their own experience in optimization of antiepileptic therapy in a group of 141 patients with various forms of epilepsy. This new optimized strategy implies inclusion of modern broad spectrum AEDs in treatment schemes along with the reduction in use of narrow spectrum drugs. Moreover, polytherapy was used in most of the cases after treatment regimen correction. All the measures allowed to achieve remission in about half of the patients with epilepsy earlier considered as incurable.