Trileptal: The Cost of Better Seizure Care.
Abstract number :
1.297
Submission category :
Year :
2001
Submission ID :
2298
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/1/2001 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2001, 06:00 AM
Authors :
A.B. Todorov, MD, Neurology Clinic, PC, Northport, AL; C.B. Koltchev, Neurology Clinic, PC, Northport, AL; A.A. Todorov, MO, Washington State University, Saint Louis, MO
RATIONALE: To evaluate the cost-benefit of Trileptal as an adjunct therapy in an office based setting.
METHODS: 46 patients with poorly controlled seizure disorder were treated with Trileptal for a period of one year. The patients represented a cross section of epileptics in a real life primary care neurology office. The patients had a long standing history of epilepsy and were on multiple drugs in the past or during the survey. The drug regimen was adjusted according to the needs of the patients. The cost of the AED regimen were prices in local pharmacies. Seizures were recorded as generalized(primary or secondary generalized)or partial (partial or partial complex)events. All data is by three month periods of time.
RESULTS: The introduction of Trileptal resulted in a significant decrease in the number of generalized seizures. There was no improvement in the number of partial seizures.[Table]* Preliminary; final data available by the end of the year. The fourth quarter costs should be significantly higher as five patients had surgery for epilepsy.
CONCLUSIONS: Trileptal is an effective, but expensive, antiepileptic medication in the treatment of generalized (primary or secondary generalized)seizures. However, the alternative to Trileptal are even more expensive epilepsy therapies.