Utilisation of Antiepileptic Drugs in a Tertiary Referral Centre, Southern Nigeria

Objective: Antiepileptic drug therapy is the mainstay of treatment for the majority of patients with epilepsy. Drug utilisation research is an important aspect of pharmacoepidemiology. It highlights the gaps in the present prescribing practice and helps in improving patient care. This study was aimed at determining the recent prescription pattern of antiepileptic drugs in an ambulatory care setting in Nigeria.

Methods: A cross sectional antiepileptic drug use study was conducted using case notes of epileptic patients managed at the medical outpatient clinic of the University of Uyo teaching hospital, a tertiary referral centre in southern Nigeria between January to December 2017.

Results: Sodium valproate was the most frequently prescribed antiepileptic drug accounting for 46.32% of the prescriptions, followed by carbamazepine and levetiracetam which accounted for 28.42% and 9.47% of the antiepileptic drugs used respectively. Antiepileptic drug combinations were used in 14.46% of the cases studied. Adverse drug reactions were documented in only 3.61% of the cases, while clinically significant drug-drug interaction was noted in 26.51% of the cases.

Conclusion: Sodium valproate and carbamazepine were the most frequently prescribed antiepileptic drugs in the University of Uyo teaching hospital. Antiepileptic drugs were prescribed mostly as monotherapy. The extent of documentation of adverse drug reactions associated with the use of antiepileptic drugs is poor.