The outcome of initiation of antiepileptic drug monotherapy in primary care: a UK database survey.

We describe the incidence of newly treated epilepsy in primary care and patterns of antiepileptic drug prescription, numbers of patients who remain on initial therapy and health service utilisation. Data was collected from 100 general practices that subscribed to the Doctors Independent Network (DIN-LINK) project. Over the study period 1531 patients were identified, equating to an annual incidence rate of 36.3 per 100 000 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 32.1 to 40.8). Of these patients, 1465 (95.7%) were started on antiepileptic drugs. Overall, 1154 (78.8%) patients remained on the original monotherapy at the 12-month stage. Primary care consultations, secondary care referrals and emergency admissions were all increased for those whose treatment was changed either to polytherapy or an alternative monotherapy.