Safety and Tolerability of Antiepileptic Drugs in Women with Epilepsy

The retrospective study conducted at Svt. Luka’s Institute of Child Neurology and Epilepsy assessed the safety and tolerability of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in 301 female patients aged 15–40 years with epilepsy, monitored from 2000 to 2014. The study found that 17% of the patients experienced significant neuroendocrine and reproductive side effects, including menstrual disorders, infertility, and cosmetic issues like obesity, hirsutism, and hair loss. These side effects were often combined. The study also noted that most pregnancies in women with epilepsy resulted in the birth of a healthy child, but outcomes varied based on the AED used. Valproic acid had the highest teratogenic risk and was associated with the most neuroendocrine reproductive diseases, followed by carbamazepine. Newer AEDs like topiramate, levetiracetam, and oxcarbazepine showed the most favorable results.