OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utilization profile of antiepileptic drugs in a population of adult patients with refractory epilepsy attending a tertiary center. METHOD: Descriptive analyses of data were obtained from the medical records of 112 patients. Other clinical and demographic characteristics were also registered. RESULTS: Polytherapies with ≥3 antiepileptic drugs were prescribed to 60.7% of patients. Of the old agents, carbamazepine and clobazam were the most commonly prescribed (72.3% and 58.9% of the patients, respectively). Among the new agents, lamotrigine was the most commonly prescribed (36.6% of the patients). At least one old agent was identified in 103 out of the 104 polytherapies, while at least one new agent was prescribed to 70.5% of the population. The most prevalent combination was carbamazepine + clobazam + lamotrigine. The mean AED load found was 3.3 (range 0.4-7.7). CONCLUSION: The pattern of use of individual drugs, although consistent with current treatment guidelines, is strongly influenced by the public health system.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utilization profile of antiepileptic drugs in a population of adult patients with refractory epilepsy attending a tertiary center. METHOD: Descriptive analyses of data were obtained from the medical records of 112 patients. Other clinical and demographic characteristics were also registered. RESULTS: Polytherapies with ≥3 antiepileptic drugs were prescribed to 60.7% of patients. Of the old agents, carbamazepine and clobazam were the most commonly prescribed (72.3% and 58.9% of the patients, respectively). Among the new agents, lamotrigine was the most commonly prescribed (36.6% of the patients). At least one old agent was identified in 103 out of the 104 polytherapies, while at least one new agent was prescribed to 70.5% of the population. The most prevalent combination was carbamazepine + clobazam + lamotrigine. The mean AED load found was 3.3 (range 0.4-7.7). CONCLUSION: The pattern of use of individual drugs, although consistent with current treatment guidelines, is strongly influenced by the public health system.