Abstracts

Rationale: The number of commercially available antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) has increased steadily. Treatment options depend on choosing an effective medication and with less undesirable side effects. Polytherapy is one of the options in cases of intractable epilepsy. This study was conducted to evaluate the utilization of AEDs by physicians in cases of intractable epilepsy in children.Methods: A random cohort of 100 pediatric patients (mean age of 5.7 years) with intractable epilepsy (failure of two AEDs) following in epilepsy clinics in King Fahad Medical City, were included to evaluate the common AEDs used to treat them.Results: Of 100 children on polytherapy, Levetriactam was part of the treatment regiment in 65%, followed by Topiramate in (55%), Valproic acid was the third (42%), Carbamazepine and phenobarbitone were 21 % each, lamotrogine was used only in 14 % (Fig.1). Conclusions: Most pediatric epileptologists have chosen Levetriactam as a part of the treatment (65%), followed by Topiramate in (55%), indicating that Levetriactam is preferred over other AEDs for its low profile side effects and drug-drug interaction, its availability in IV formula, broad spectrum against different seizure types and usually doesn`t need monitoring for drug level.