Prescribed antiseizure medication doses and their relation to defined daily doses for achieving seizure freedom in newly diagnosed patients with epilepsy. 2023

Hire Hersi, and Jani Raitanen, and Jukka T Saarinen, and Jukka Peltola
Department of Neurology, Vaasa Central Hospital, Vaasa, Finland.

To investigate the antiseizure medication (ASM) doses required to achieve seizure freedom and their correlation with the World Health Organization's defined daily doses (DDDs) in patients aged 16 years or older with newly diagnosed epilepsy. The study included 459 patients with a validated diagnosis of new-onset epilepsy. Patient records were retrospectively analyzed to determine the ASM doses in patients with or without seizure freedom during follow-up. The DDD of the relevant ASM was then retrieved. The seizure-freedom rate with first and subsequent ASMs was 88% (404/459 patients) during the follow-up. The mean prescribed doses (PDDs) and PDD/DDD ratio of the most commonly used ASMs, ie, oxcarbazepine (OXC), carbamazepine (CBZ), and valproic acid (VPA), differed significantly between seizure-free and non-seizure-free status (992 mg and 0.99 vs 1132 mg and 1.13; 547 mg and 0.55 vs 659 mg and 0.66; and 953 mg and 0.64 vs 1260 mg and 0.84, respectively). The effect of the OXC dose as the first failed ASM on the possibility of achieving seizure freedom was significant (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.002). Thirty-four of 43 patients (79%) in which an OXC dose of ≤900 mg failed became seizure-free, as compared with 24 of 54 patients (44%) with a failed OXC dose >900 mg. The present study provides new insights into the doses of the commonly used ASMs such as OXC, CBZ, and VPA that can lead to seizure freedom as monotherapy or as combination therapy. The higher PDD/DDD ratio of OXC (0.99) than that of CBZ or VPA renders a generalized PDD/DDD comparison highly problematic.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002220 Carbamazepine A dibenzazepine that acts as a sodium channel blocker. It is used as an anticonvulsant for the treatment of grand mal and psychomotor or focal SEIZURES. It may also be used in the management of BIPOLAR DISORDER, and has analgesic properties. Amizepine,Carbamazepine Acetate,Carbamazepine Anhydrous,Carbamazepine Dihydrate,Carbamazepine Hydrochloride,Carbamazepine L-Tartrate (4:1),Carbamazepine Phosphate,Carbamazepine Sulfate (2:1),Carbazepin,Epitol,Finlepsin,Neurotol,Tegretol
D004827 Epilepsy A disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of paroxysmal brain dysfunction due to a sudden, disorderly, and excessive neuronal discharge. Epilepsy classification systems are generally based upon: (1) clinical features of the seizure episodes (e.g., motor seizure), (2) etiology (e.g., post-traumatic), (3) anatomic site of seizure origin (e.g., frontal lobe seizure), (4) tendency to spread to other structures in the brain, and (5) temporal patterns (e.g., nocturnal epilepsy). (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p313) Aura,Awakening Epilepsy,Seizure Disorder,Epilepsy, Cryptogenic,Auras,Cryptogenic Epilepsies,Cryptogenic Epilepsy,Epilepsies,Epilepsies, Cryptogenic,Epilepsy, Awakening,Seizure Disorders
D005610 Freedom The rights of individuals to act and make decisions without external constraints. Liberty,Libertarianism,Freedoms
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000078330 Oxcarbazepine A carbamazepine derivative that acts as a voltage-gated sodium channel blocker. It is used for the treatment of PARTIAL SEIZURES with or without secondary generalization. It is also an inducer of CYTOCHROME P-450 CYP3A4. 10,11-Dihydro-10-oxo-5H-dibenz(b,f)azepine-5-carboxamide,GP 47680,Timox,Trileptal
D000927 Anticonvulsants Drugs used to prevent SEIZURES or reduce their severity. Anticonvulsant,Anticonvulsant Drug,Anticonvulsive Agent,Anticonvulsive Drug,Antiepileptic,Antiepileptic Agent,Antiepileptic Agents,Antiepileptic Drug,Anticonvulsant Drugs,Anticonvulsive Agents,Anticonvulsive Drugs,Antiepileptic Drugs,Antiepileptics,Agent, Anticonvulsive,Agent, Antiepileptic,Agents, Anticonvulsive,Agents, Antiepileptic,Drug, Anticonvulsant,Drug, Anticonvulsive,Drug, Antiepileptic,Drugs, Anticonvulsant,Drugs, Anticonvulsive,Drugs, Antiepileptic
D001569 Benzodiazepines A group of two-ring heterocyclic compounds consisting of a benzene ring fused to a diazepine ring. Benzodiazepine,Benzodiazepine Compounds
D012189 Retrospective Studies Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons. Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective
D014635 Valproic Acid A fatty acid with anticonvulsant and anti-manic properties that is used in the treatment of EPILEPSY and BIPOLAR DISORDER. The mechanisms of its therapeutic actions are not well understood. It may act by increasing GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID levels in the brain or by altering the properties of VOLTAGE-GATED SODIUM CHANNELS. Dipropyl Acetate,Divalproex,Sodium Valproate,2-Propylpentanoic Acid,Calcium Valproate,Convulsofin,Depakene,Depakine,Depakote,Divalproex Sodium,Ergenyl,Magnesium Valproate,Propylisopropylacetic Acid,Semisodium Valproate,Valproate,Valproate Calcium,Valproate Sodium,Valproic Acid, Sodium Salt (2:1),Vupral,2 Propylpentanoic Acid

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