Pharmacovigilance in Pediatric Patients with Epilepsy Using Antiepileptic Drugs
April 2022
in “
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
”
TLDR Most children with epilepsy on antiepileptic drugs experience side effects, especially those on multiple drugs, but these drugs help reduce seizures.
The study investigated adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in 80 pediatric epilepsy patients on mono- or polytherapy. It found that 97% of patients reported adverse drug reactions (ADRs), with polytherapy patients experiencing more ADRs, including fatigue and hair loss, compared to monotherapy patients who reported fatigue and somnolence. Despite the higher incidence of ADRs, polytherapy was associated with a significant improvement in seizure frequency. The study highlighted the importance of pharmacovigilance in managing ADRs in children on AEDs.
