Antiepileptic Drug Utilization in Pediatric Patients at a Tertiary Care Rural Teaching Hospital of Central India

Aim: To evaluate utilization pattern of antiepileptic drugs in pediatric patients with epilepsy.

Methods: From the Medical Records section of AVBR Hospital, Sawangi (M), Wardha pediatric epileptic patients were selected who received at least one prescription of an Antiepileptic drug. The demographic data, type of seizures and anti-epileptic drugs prescribed to the patients were recorded. Record files of 300 pediatric epileptic patients were analyzed.

Results: Among the 300 patients, 205 were male patients (68.30%) as compared to 95 female patients (31.70%). Generalized Tonic Clonic seizures were the commonest type of seizures encountered in pediatric patients studied (78.33%) and Sodium Valproate was the commonest drug prescribed (119 patients) for its treatment. Partial seizures comprised the second commonest category of seizures (18.33%). Carbamazepine (25 patients) was the most commonly prescribed drug to treat it. Monotherapy was given in 72.00% of patients., Sodium valproate (42.59%) was the most commonly used drug as Monotherapy and Phenytoin (30.56%) and Carbamazepine (21.29%) were the second and third most common used drug as Monotherapy respectively.

Conclusion: Generalized Tonic Clonic type of Epilepsy was the commonest type of epilepsy with Sodium valproate being the most common Antiepileptic drug prescribed. The study also showed that Monotherapy with Antiepileptic Drugs was the most common approach being used.