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Treatment Considerations in Anticonvulsant Monotherapy
Author(s) -
Wilder B. J.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1987.tb05765.x
Subject(s) - polypharmacy , anticonvulsant , medicine , drug , epilepsy , intensive care medicine , regimen , anticonvulsant drugs , combination therapy , pharmacology , surgery , psychiatry
Summary: The long‐standing practice of polypharmacy in treating epilepsy is giving way to use of monotherapy. Monotherapy can improve seizure control as well as reduce the risk of serious idiosyncratic reactions, dose‐related side effects, and complex drug interactions. Monotherapy also offers improved compliance and cost‐effectiveness. The basis of monotherapy is accurate diagnosis and assessment of the patient's seizure type(s), followed by selection of a single appropriate anticonvulsant drug. Many patients currently treated with multiple anticonvulsants can be successfully converted to monotherapy with a carefully monitored program in which troublesome and redundant drugs are gradually withdrawn from the therapeutic regimen.