Antiepileptic drug use in women of childbearing age

Jill Clayton-Smith, Kimford J. Meador, Patricia Penovich, Gus A. Baker, Page B. Pennell, Edward Bromfield, Alison Pack, Joyce D. Liporace, Maria Sam, Laura A. Kalayjian, David J. Thurman, Eugene Moore, David W. Loring

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Research on antiepileptic drug (AED) teratogenesis has demonstrated an increased risk for valproate. The impact of these findings on current AED prescribing patterns for women of childbearing age with epilepsy is uncertain. The Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs (NEAD) Study is an ongoing prospective multicenter observational investigation that enrolled pregnant women with epilepsy on the most common AED monotherapies from October 1999 to February 2004 (carbamazepine, lamotrigine, valproate, and phenytoin). A 2007 survey of AED use in women of childbearing age at eight NEAD centers found a total of 932 women of childbearing age with epilepsy (6% taking no AED, 53% monotherapy, 41% polytherapy). The most common monotherapies were lamotrigine or levetiracetam. Since 2004, prescriptions of carbamazepine, phenytoin, and valproate have decreased, whereas those for levetiracetam have increased. Except for the top two AED monotherapies, there were marked differences in other monotherapies and in polytherapies between U.S. and UK centers. Future investigations are needed to examine reasons for drug choice. © 2009 Elsevier Inc.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)339-343
    Number of pages4
    JournalEpilepsy and Behavior
    Volume15
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jul 2009

    Keywords

    • Antiepileptic drugs
    • Drug choice
    • Epilepsy
    • Pregnancy
    • Prescription practices
    • Teratogenesis
    • Women

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