Level of physicians' awareness of antiepileptic drug adverse effects

Abstract

Purpose: The study aimed to investigate the level of physicians' awareness regarding the adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) that were reported by their patients and to investigate whether these adverse effects caused by AEDs were documented in patients' files.

Principal results: One hundred one patients and 21 physicians were recruited; one patient and 2 physicians did not take part in the study. Sixty-two percent of the patients had epileptic seizures for more than 3 years, and 74% of them had generalized seizures. Sodium valproate, carbamazepine, topiramate, vigabatrin, levetiracetam, and lamotrigine were the most frequently used AEDs by patients; whereas, phenytoin, clonazepam, and pregabalin were the least used. Drowsiness came on top on the adverse effects' list, where its occurrence was about twice the weight gain and almost three times as frequent as movement and behavioral adverse effects.

Conclusion: Majority of the adverse effects were not documented in the patients' files. However, physicians were aware of majority of the adverse effects associated with AEDs.

Keywords: Adverse effects; Antiepileptic drugs; Awareness; Cross-sectional; Epilepsy; Physicians.