Drug utilization pattern of antiseizure drugs and their adverse effects in the pediatric population, in a tertiary care hospital attached to a medical college

Abstract

Background: Epilepsy is "a condition characterized by recurrent (two or more) seizure, unprovoked by any immediate identifi ed cause." The desired outcome of antiseizure drug (ASD) therapy is to be seizure-free throughout the rest of life. The objective was to study the utilization pattern and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with the use of ASDs in pediatric outpatients in epilepsy clinic. Methods: This cross-sectional, observational and single center study was carried out over a period of 1 year in 430 pediatric patients. Analyzed data included demographic details and drugs prescribed in respective seizure types along with ADRs due to ASDs. Results: In a total 430 patients analyzed, seizure were most commonly observed in boys (69.8%) in 6-10 year of age (45.3%), with a positive family history in (16%), with no specifi c cause of seizure in (71.6%), with most common type was focal seizure in (62.3%), which was mainly treated with carbamazepine (73.8%). Most common ADR was irritability (32.2%) with Valproate being main drug. 87.3% ADRs were in " possible" as per World Health Organization causality assessment scale, 94.9% ADRs were "mild" as per Hartwig and Siegel severity assessment scale and 98.3% ADRs were "preventable" as per Schumock and Thornton preventability scale. Conclusion: Focal seizure was most common type of seizure observed mainly in boys of 6-10 year with carbamazepine as mainly prescribed drug. Use of appropriate ASDs in the majority of patients as per guidelines, has decreased number of ADRs in our study. Prescribing drugs were mainly from essential drug list and by generic names.

Drug utilization pattern of antiepileptic agents among pediatric epilepsy at tertiary care teaching hospital of Gujarat: a cross sectional study

“…13 and it is in contrast to the some other study in which majority of children fall in 0 to 3 year age group. 14 In the present study, out of total, 86% patients were immunized, which is almost similar to study carried out by Mistry et al 15 Certain diseases like measles, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus etc., cause brain damage as well as febrile episodes which may result in to febrile convulsions. So immunization plays an important role in prevention of epilepsy.…”

Patterns of antiepileptic drugs use in epileptic pediatric patients in Jordan

“…This is also in agreement with epidemiological study suggesting the incidence of epilepsy is more common in children younger than 12 years of age 8. The percent of patients on monotherapy in this study is comparable to that reported for pediatric patients in a study from India,8 but much higher than those reported from Italy and Oman 9,10. However, our results are in disagreement with a recent study from India, reporting that carbamazepine was the most commonly prescribed AED followed by valproic acid 8.…”

“…Moreover, the majority of patients (80%) were younger than 12 years of age. This is also in agreement with epidemiological study suggesting the incidence of epilepsy is more common in children younger than 12 years of age 8. The percent of patients on monotherapy in this study is comparable to that reported for pediatric patients in a study from India,8 but much higher than those reported from Italy and Oman 9,10.…”

“…In agreement with published data the population of patients had slightly more males than females 8. Moreover, the majority of patients (80%) were younger than 12 years of age.…”

“…The percent of patients on monotherapy in this study is comparable to that reported for pediatric patients in a study from India,8 but much higher than those reported from Italy and Oman 9,10. However, our results are in disagreement with a recent study from India, reporting that carbamazepine was the most commonly prescribed AED followed by valproic acid 8. Valproic acid is AED that can be used for several types of epilepsy.…”