Drug Utilization Pattern in Patients Reported with Epilepsy: Retrospective Observational Study
Authors/Creators
- 1. Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Darbhanga Medical College, Darbhanga, Bihar, India
- 2. Senior Resident, Department of Pharmacology, Darbhanga Medical College, Darbhanga, Bihar, India
- 3. Assistant Professor and HOD, Department of Pharmacology, Darbhanga Medical College, Darbhanga, Bihar, India
Description
Abstract
Aim: The objective was to evaluate the prescription pattern of Antiepileptic drugs and to evaluate how rational is
the prescription for various epilepsies.
Methods: The present study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology, Darbhanga Medical College,
LaheriasaraiDarbhanga. Adult outpatients who have been diagnosed to have epilepsy were identified and
prescribing pattern was studied. Totally 100 prescriptions were collected randomly over a period of 6 months.
Patients demographic details, clinical diagnosis, type of epilepsy, type of AED used, drug dose and frequency
were recorded. Average number of drugs per prescriptions was calculated. Prescription of all patients was entered
in a preformed proforma and was analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Results: In the present study, out of 100 patients 60 patients were male and 40 patients were females. Epilepsy
was more commonly seen in the patients of age group of 20-40 years. The analysis of the type of seizure showed
that the most common type was partial seizures (64%) and the least common type was absence seizures (3%).
Regarding the mode of therapy, majority of the patients were treated with monotherapy (82%). Polytherapy was
given for 18% of the study population. The analysis of prescriptions showed that the most commonly prescribed
drug was carbamazepine (36%) followed by valproate (24%) and levetiracetam (23%). The other drugs prescribed
were phenytoin (5%), phenobarbitone (6%), benzodiazepines (4%). The least commonly prescribed drugs were
the newer drugs like topiramate and lamotrigine (2%).
Conclusion: Older antiepileptic agents like carbamazepine, valproate, phenytoin are still the most commonly
agents as monotherapy whereas newer ones like levetiracetam are mostly used as add on drug in cases of treatment
failure with older drugs. Antiepileptic prescribing in this study population is in accordance to the standard
treatment guidelines for epilepsy.
Abstract (English)
Abstract
Aim: The objective was to evaluate the prescription pattern of Antiepileptic drugs and to evaluate how rational is
the prescription for various epilepsies.
Methods: The present study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology, Darbhanga Medical College,
LaheriasaraiDarbhanga. Adult outpatients who have been diagnosed to have epilepsy were identified and
prescribing pattern was studied. Totally 100 prescriptions were collected randomly over a period of 6 months.
Patients demographic details, clinical diagnosis, type of epilepsy, type of AED used, drug dose and frequency
were recorded. Average number of drugs per prescriptions was calculated. Prescription of all patients was entered
in a preformed proforma and was analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Results: In the present study, out of 100 patients 60 patients were male and 40 patients were females. Epilepsy
was more commonly seen in the patients of age group of 20-40 years. The analysis of the type of seizure showed
that the most common type was partial seizures (64%) and the least common type was absence seizures (3%).
Regarding the mode of therapy, majority of the patients were treated with monotherapy (82%). Polytherapy was
given for 18% of the study population. The analysis of prescriptions showed that the most commonly prescribed
drug was carbamazepine (36%) followed by valproate (24%) and levetiracetam (23%). The other drugs prescribed
were phenytoin (5%), phenobarbitone (6%), benzodiazepines (4%). The least commonly prescribed drugs were
the newer drugs like topiramate and lamotrigine (2%).
Conclusion: Older antiepileptic agents like carbamazepine, valproate, phenytoin are still the most commonly
agents as monotherapy whereas newer ones like levetiracetam are mostly used as add on drug in cases of treatment
failure with older drugs. Antiepileptic prescribing in this study population is in accordance to the standard
treatment guidelines for epilepsy.
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IJCPR,Vol15,Issue10,Article37.pdf
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Additional details
Dates
- Accepted
-
2023-09-12