A pharmacovigilance study of monitoring & focusing of adverse drug reactions induced by antiepileptic drugs used in epileptic patients

Abstract

Epilepsy is a chronic disorder of the brain that affects people worldwide. The standard treatment of epilepsy is optimal use of antiepileptic drug. Efficacy of an antiepileptic drug refers to its effectiveness in preventing or reducing the recurrence of a particular seizure type. For example, physicians may not use sodium valproate in female patients who are planning to have children because of its teratogenic side effects. So, clinicians should give emphasis for patients with these characteristics to counsel on how to minimize or prevent adverse effects from antiepileptic drugs or giving reassurance about it if it is minor. Pharmacovigilance (PV) is the monitoring of drugs and the prevention of the risk of adverse effects resulting from their use, whether this risk is potential or proven. The aim of the PV study to detect and identify the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) induced by the treatment of antiepileptic drugs in epileptic patients. This prospective study was carried out for three months in an out-patient department of neurology of a multispeciality teaching hospital.

Antiseizure adverse drug reaction and associated factors among epileptic patients at Jimma Medical Center: a prospective observational study

“…Worldwide there are seventy million people with epilepsy, and 90% of people with epilepsy live in low- and middle-income countries 4 , 5 . Epileptic seizure has a lot of negative consequences on the patient’s psychology and social life such as education, relationships, and employment status 6 .…”

“…In 70% of the patients with epilepsy, these goals are feasible with the optimum use of antiseizure drugs (ASDs) 8 . The centrally acting drugs like antiseizure, contribute to adverse drug reactions (ADRs) such as insomnia, sedation, increasing suicidal tendencies, and depression 6 . These ADRs compromise the benefits of ASDs 6 .…”

“…The centrally acting drugs like antiseizure, contribute to adverse drug reactions (ADRs) such as insomnia, sedation, increasing suicidal tendencies, and depression 6 . These ADRs compromise the benefits of ASDs 6 . The World Health Organization (WHO) defines adverse drug reaction (ADR) as “any noxious, unintended, or undesired effect of a drug that occurs at doses used in humans for prophylaxis, diagnosis, investigation, therapy, or for the adjustment of physiological function 9 , 10 .…”

Knowledge, Awareness and Attitude of Pharmacy Students towards Epilepsy in Iraq

“…Epilepsy is a chronic disorder of the brain that affects people worldwide (1) and in all age groups (2) , Epilepsy is a syndromes characterized by unprovoked, recurring seizures and to be epileptic should have at least more than two seizures or more, It is frequent neurological illness affecting an estimated 50 million people in the world, characterized by unusual electrical activity in the brain that lead to change in the movement of the body or can affect the sensation, consciousness or behavior (3) .…”

Study of adverse drug reactions associated with antiepileptic drugs: a pharmacovigilance study using spontaneous reporting system

“…Monitoring of ADRs helps to evaluate the risk-benefit of medications, empower safe and rational use of drugs and enhance general patient care and well-being. 3…”