Rationale use of antiepileptic drugs in patients with epilepsy at a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Epileptic convulsions have negative consequences on patient’s psychological and social life like relationship, education and employment. Seizure which are uncontrolled, are always associated with poor quality of life, physical and psychosocial morbidity, increased risk of sudden unexpected death. Hence, it is important and becomes mandatory to treat epilepsy with appropriate antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) as soon as the patient reports with more than one documented or witnessed seizure. Our purpose was to investigate the use of antiepileptic drugs in epilepsy, changes in prescription patterns, exposure to specific drugs, combination of drugs, and to quantify the use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in epilepsy at a tertiary care hospital. A Total of 105 patients were recruited, majority were male and between 18-25 yrs. and belonged to upper lower class. 80% were diagnosed with GTCS. Majority were on monotheraphy and phenytoin was most commonly used antiepileptic drug for the treatment of epilepsy. The drugs prescribed are mainly from older AEDs. Selection of AEDs is based on their known efficacy for specific seizure. Such studies was help in modifying the prescription guidelines as they have an important role in making rationale prescription and to see if it’s being followed at tertiary care centres. Keywords: Epilepsy, Antiepileptic drugs, Rational drug use, Drug utilization.