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Pharmacology of Antiepileptic Drug Polypharmacy
Author(s) -
Ferrendelli James A.
Publication year - 1999
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.1528-1157.1999.tb00923.x
Subject(s) - polypharmacy , medicine , drug , epilepsy , adverse effect , pharmacology , antiepileptic drug , intensive care medicine , side effect (computer science) , drug action , psychiatry , computer science , programming language
Summary: Therapeutic options for epilepsy are increasing, and all drugs can produce adverse side effects. Physicians should first use monotherapy when treating an epileptic patient. If one drug proves insufficient to control all seizures without intolerable side effects, then careful combination of the fewest drugs possible must be used. Combine drugs with different mechanisms of action rather than drugs with similar mechanisms of action. Closely monitor the patient for adverse side effects, which increase when multiple drugs are taken, and measure antiepileptic blood levels more frequently than with patients who are on monotherapy.