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Side Effects of Antiepileptics— A Review
Author(s) -
Walia Kulbir S.,
Khan Elizabeth A.,
Ko Dong H.,
Raza Shariq S.,
Khan Yasin N.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
pain practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1533-2500
pISSN - 1530-7085
DOI - 10.1111/j.1533-2500.2004.04304.x
Subject(s) - felbamate , medicine , oxcarbazepine , lamotrigine , carbamazepine , topiramate , tiagabine , gabapentin , levetiracetam , lacosamide , pregabalin , zonisamide , side effect (computer science) , phenytoin , adverse effect , valproic acid , pharmacology , epilepsy , tolerability , anesthesia , psychiatry , alternative medicine , pathology , computer science , programming language
Abstract: Older generation antiepileptic drugs like Phenobarbital (Luminal), carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), and valproic acid (Depakote) have several shortcomings such as suboptimal response rates, significant adverse effects, several drug interactions, and a narrow therapeutic index. New antiepileptic drugs have been developed in the last decade to overcome some of these problems. These newer generation antiepileptics like felbamate (Felbatol), gabapentin (Neurontin), lamotrigine (Lamictal), levetiracetam (Keppra), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), tiagabine (Gabitril), topiramate (Topamax), and zonisamide (Zonegran) have better tolerability profiles, low interaction potential, and significantly less enzyme inducing or inhibiting properties. As the use of antiepileptic drugs has expanded to include treatment of neuropathic pain, newer side effects have been reported. In addition to the common side effects of antiepileptic drugs, like dizziness, drowsiness, and mental slowing; other side effects like weight gain, metabolic acidosis, nephrolithiasis, angle closure glaucoma, skin rash, hepatotoxicity, colitis, and movement and behavioral disorders, to name a few, have been brought to our attention. This review is an attempt to highlight the features and incidences of some of these side effects.