AIMS: To investigate the extent of acute coprescribing in primary care to children on chronic antiepileptic therapy, which could give rise to potentially harmful drug-drug interactions. DESIGN: Acute coprescribing to children on chronic antiepileptic drug therapy in primary care was assessed in 178 324 children aged 0-17 years for the year 1 November 1999 to 31 October 2000. Computerized prescribing data were retrieved from 161 representative general practices in Scotland. SETTING: One hundred and sixty-one general practices throughout Scotland. RESULTS: During the study year 723 (0.41%) children chronically prescribed antiepileptic therapy were identified. Fourteen antiepileptic agents were prescribed, with carbamazepine, sodium valproate and lamotrigine accounting for 80% of the total. During the year children on chronic antiepileptic therapy were prescribed 4895 acute coprescriptions for 269 different medicines. The average number of acute coprescriptions for non-epileptic drug therapy were eight, 11, six, and six for the 0-1, 2-4, 5-11, and 12-17-year-olds, respectively. Of these acute coprescriptions 72 (1.5%) prescribed to 22 (3.0%) children were identified as a potential source of clinically serious interactions. The age-adjusted prevalence rates for potentially serious coprescribing were 86, 26, 22, and 33/1000 children chronically prescribed antiepileptic therapy in the 0-1, 2-4, 5-11, and 12-17-year-old age groups, respectively. The drugs most commonly coprescribed which could give rise to such interactions were antacids, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, theophylline and the low-dose oral contraceptive. For 10 (45.5%0 of the 20 children identified at risk of a potentially clinically serious adverse drug interaction, the acute coprescription was prescribed off label because of age or specific contraindication/warning. CONCLUSIONS: In primary care, 3.0% of children on chronic antiepileptic therapy are coprescribed therapeutic agents, which could give rise to clinically serious drug-drug interactions.
AIMS: To investigate the extent of acute coprescribing in primary care to children on chronic antiepileptic therapy, which could give rise to potentially harmful drug-drug interactions. DESIGN: Acute coprescribing to children on chronic antiepileptic drug therapy in primary care was assessed in 178 324 children aged 0-17 years for the year 1 November 1999 to 31 October 2000. Computerized prescribing data were retrieved from 161 representative general practices in Scotland. SETTING: One hundred and sixty-one general practices throughout Scotland. RESULTS: During the study year 723 (0.41%) children chronically prescribed antiepileptic therapy were identified. Fourteen antiepileptic agents were prescribed, with carbamazepine, sodium valproate and lamotrigine accounting for 80% of the total. During the year children on chronic antiepileptic therapy were prescribed 4895 acute coprescriptions for 269 different medicines. The average number of acute coprescriptions for non-epileptic drug therapy were eight, 11, six, and six for the 0-1, 2-4, 5-11, and 12-17-year-olds, respectively. Of these acute coprescriptions 72 (1.5%) prescribed to 22 (3.0%) children were identified as a potential source of clinically serious interactions. The age-adjusted prevalence rates for potentially serious coprescribing were 86, 26, 22, and 33/1000 children chronically prescribed antiepileptic therapy in the 0-1, 2-4, 5-11, and 12-17-year-old age groups, respectively. The drugs most commonly coprescribed which could give rise to such interactions were antacids, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, theophylline and the low-dose oral contraceptive. For 10 (45.5%0 of the 20 children identified at risk of a potentially clinically serious adverse drug interaction, the acute coprescription was prescribed off label because of age or specific contraindication/warning. CONCLUSIONS: In primary care, 3.0% of children on chronic antiepileptic therapy are coprescribed therapeutic agents, which could give rise to clinically serious drug-drug interactions.
Authors: Courtney Baker; James A Feinstein; Xuan Ma; Shari Bolen; Neal V Dawson; Negar Golchin; Alexis Horace; Lawrence C Kleinman; Sharon B Meropol; Elia M Pestana Knight; Almut G Winterstein; Paul M Bakaki Journal: Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf Date: 2019-02-06 Impact factor: 2.890
Authors: Yonas G Tefera; Begashaw M Gebresillassie; Abebe B Mekuria; Tamrat B Abebe; Daniel A Erku; Nurahmed Seid; Habiba B Beshir Journal: Pharmacol Res Perspect Date: 2017-03-17
Authors: Paul M Bakaki; Alexis Horace; Neal Dawson; Almut Winterstein; Jennifer Waldron; Jennifer Staley; Elia M Pestana Knight; Sharon B Meropol; Rujia Liu; Hannah Johnson; Negar Golchin; James A Feinstein; Shari D Bolen; Lawrence C Kleinman Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-11-29 Impact factor: 3.240