Erez Berman1, Eli Marom2, Dana Ekstein3, Ilan Blatt4, Sara Eyal5. 1. Department of Pharmacology, Israel Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: erezberm@post.bgu.ac.il. 2. Department of Pharmacology, Israel Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: ELI.MAROM@MOH.GOV.IL. 3. Department of Neurology, The Agnes Ginges Center of Neurogenetics, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: dekstein@hadassah.org.il. 4. Department of Neurology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: Ilan.Blatt@sheba.health.gov.il. 5. Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: sarae@ekmd.huji.ac.il.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to identify trends in utilization of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) over time in a nation-wide population in Israel. METHODS: Data on AED utilization (for all indications) for the period 2010-2014 were obtained from pharmaceutical companies that distribute AEDs in Israel. Prevalence of AED utilization was reported as defined daily doses (DDD)/1000 inhabitants/day. RESULTS: The utilization of most AEDs included in our analysis remained stable over the study period. The greatest increases in utilization of drugs established in Israel were observed for lamotrigine (33%), oxcarbazepine (31%), and primidone (18%). Decreases in use were recorded for carbamazepine (18%) and phenobarbital (15%). Use of older AEDs appeared to be relatively high, compared with the use of newer AEDs. CONCLUSIONS: During the study period of 2010-2014, conventional AEDs remained a main treatment choice in Israel, in certain cases in contrast to current recommendations and guidelines, for reasons yet to be revealed in further research.
PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to identify trends in utilization of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) over time in a nation-wide population in Israel. METHODS: Data on AED utilization (for all indications) for the period 2010-2014 were obtained from pharmaceutical companies that distribute AEDs in Israel. Prevalence of AED utilization was reported as defined daily doses (DDD)/1000 inhabitants/day. RESULTS: The utilization of most AEDs included in our analysis remained stable over the study period. The greatest increases in utilization of drugs established in Israel were observed for lamotrigine (33%), oxcarbazepine (31%), and primidone (18%). Decreases in use were recorded for carbamazepine (18%) and phenobarbital (15%). Use of older AEDs appeared to be relatively high, compared with the use of newer AEDs. CONCLUSIONS: During the study period of 2010-2014, conventional AEDs remained a main treatment choice in Israel, in certain cases in contrast to current recommendations and guidelines, for reasons yet to be revealed in further research.