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 on pharmacovigilance in pediatric epilepsy patients using antiepileptic drugs involved 80 participants and found that 97% experienced adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Polytherapy was linked to a higher incidence of ADRs, including fatigue, hair loss, and memory impairment, but also resulted in a greater reduction in seizure frequency (24%) compared to monotherapy (15%). Emotional liability, psychomotor agitation, and anxiety were more frequent in both treatment groups during follow-up. The study emphasized the need for vigilant pharmacovigilance, suggesting polytherapy should be reserved for cases where monotherapy is ineffective.
