Prescribing of anti-epileptic drugs in the northern and Yorkshire region: 1992-1995.

Epilepsy is a condition for which regular drug treatment is normally prescribed. We have examined the primary care prescribing rates for anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) in a region of northern England with a population of 6.8 million. Over the 4-year period 1992-1995 the number of AED prescription items issued rose by 15%. A third of this rise is accounted for by increased prescribing of the new anticonvulsants, vigabatrin, lamotrigine and gabapentin, which are primarily indicated for adjunct use. Prescribing of phenytoin and barbiturates fell over the same period, but this reduction was more than compensated for by increased prescribing of carbamazepine and sodium valproate. There were notable differences in both the overall volume and the choice of AEDs used in different health authority areas and these are probably attributable to the influence of the local secondary-care sector on the therapeutic regimens adopted by general practitioners in the area.