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Ali S, Stanley J, Davis S, Keenan N, Scheffer IE, Sadleir LG. Indications and prescribing patterns of antiseizure medications in children in New Zealand. Dev Med Child Neurol 2023. [PMID: 36775823 DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.15546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
AIM To determine indications and prescribing patterns for antiseizure medications (ASMs) in children by age, sex, and socioeconomic status. METHOD This retrospective study searched the New Zealand database of ASM prescriptions dispensed to individuals aged 18 years or under during 2015 in three regions of New Zealand (48% paediatric population). Medical records were reviewed by a paediatric neurologist for indication. ASMs were grouped into old or new (1993 onwards). RESULTS In total, 2594 children (0 to 18 years, mean age 11 years 2 months, median 12 years; 51% male) were dispensed 3557 ASMs for seizures (76%), pain (6%), headache (5%), mental health (3%), and movement disorders (2%). After 10 years of age, lamotrigine was more likely and valproate less likely to be prescribed in females than males. No sex difference was observed for valproate prescriptions for non-seizure indications. Topiramate prescriptions increased in adolescent females. Prescriptions for non-seizure indications increased from 7% in children aged 6 years or under to 31% in 16- to 18-year-olds. The proportion of children receiving a new ASM compared to an old ASM was greater in children from higher than lower socioeconomic areas. INTERPRETATION Our results highlight a need for focused ASM teratogenicity messaging to clinicians prescribing ASMs for non-seizure indications. In addition, to improve equity of epilepsy care, it is critical for health policies to consider socioeconomic factors that impact on ASM prescribing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayma Ali
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - James Stanley
- Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Suzanne Davis
- Department of Neurology, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Ngaire Keenan
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Ingrid E Scheffer
- Departments of Medicine and Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Austin Health and Royal Children's Hospital, Florey and Murdoch Children's Research Institutes, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Lynette G Sadleir
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
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Silva R, Bicker J, Almeida A, Carona A, Silva A, Sales F, Santana I, Falcão A, Fortuna A. Clinical Application of Pharmacokinetics to Appraise Adherence to Levetiracetam in Portuguese Epileptic Patients. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10092127. [PMID: 36140228 PMCID: PMC9495958 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10092127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Adherence to antiseizure drug treatment determines its effectiveness and safety, and consequently affects patients’ quality of life. Herein, we assessed adherence to levetiracetam in Portuguese patients with refractory epilepsy (n = 115), with resort to a pharmacokinetic drug monitoring approach. The pharmacokinetic parameters of levetiracetam in each patient were determined in steady-state while admitted to the hospital. Then, adherence was assessed by comparing the plasma concentration of the drug observed on the first day of hospitalization with the predicted plasma concentration, considering previously determined pharmacokinetic parameters. The rate of adherence was assessed according to gender, age, diagnosis, and antiseizure drug regimen. Among 115 enrolled patients, 49 (42.6%) were identified as non-adherent, 30 (26.1%) classified as under-consumers, and 19 (16.5%) as over-consumers. A relationship between adherence, daily dose and plasma concentrations was herein reported for the first time. Adherent patients received higher daily doses of levetiracetam [2500 (2000–3000) mg] than non-adherent over-consumers [1500 (1000–2000) mg] and non-adherent under-consumers [2000 (1500–3000) mg]. Higher average steady-state plasma concentrations of levetiracetam were found in non-adherent under-consumers [27.28 (15.33–36.36) mg/L], followed by adherent patients [22.05 (16.62–29.81) mg/L] and non-adherent over-consumers [17.50 (10.69–24.37) mg/L]. This study demonstrates that adherence (or lack thereof) influences the plasma concentrations of levetiracetam in steady-state and its pharmacological effects. Moreover, it emphasizes the importance of educating patients to encourage adherence to therapy. Otherwise, the risk of developing toxic and subtherapeutic concentrations is undeniable, compromising the therapeutic effect and safety of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Silva
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- CIBIT/ICNAS—Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Joana Bicker
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- CIBIT/ICNAS—Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Anabela Almeida
- CIBIT/ICNAS—Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- CIVG—Vasco da Gama Research Center/EUVG—Vasco da Gama University School, 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Andreia Carona
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- CIBIT/ICNAS—Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Silva
- Refractory Epilepsy Reference Centre, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, EPE, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Francisco Sales
- Refractory Epilepsy Reference Centre, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, EPE, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Isabel Santana
- Refractory Epilepsy Reference Centre, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, EPE, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Amílcar Falcão
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- CIBIT/ICNAS—Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Fortuna
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- CIBIT/ICNAS—Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-(239)-488-400; Fax: +351-(239)-488-503
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Åndell E, Tomson T, Åmark P, Pihlström N, Tedroff K, Carlsson S. Childhood-onset seizures: A long-term cohort study of use of antiepileptic drugs, and drugs for neuropsychiatric conditions. Epilepsy Res 2020; 168:106489. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2020.106489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Pharmacokinetic Monitoring of Levetiracetam in Portuguese Refractory Epileptic Patients: Effect of Gender, Weight and Concomitant Therapy. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:pharmaceutics12100943. [PMID: 33019727 PMCID: PMC7601255 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12100943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Levetiracetam is a second-generation antiepileptic drug, widely used in the treatment of focal and generalized epilepsy due to its pharmacokinetic and safety profiles. Its pharmacokinetic monitoring is ascribed as useful to personalize its dosing regimen. The aim of the present study was to describe, for the first time, the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam in Portuguese refractory epileptic patients. Therefore, a retrospective study was carried out on 65 Portuguese refractory epileptic patients (pharmacokinetic study: 48; validation study: 17) admitted to the Refractory Epilepsy Centre of the Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. The pharmacokinetic parameters of levetiracetam were estimated by applying a one-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination analysis. Male patients showed higher distribution volume (Vd/F) and oral clearance (CL/F) than female patients (median Vd/F: 52.40 L in males and 38.60 L in females, p = 0.011; median CL/F: 4.71 L/h in males and 3.91 L/h in females, p = 0.028). Higher values of Vd/F (p = 0.026) and CL/F (p = 0.003) were also found in overweight patients relative to normal weight and obese patients. Carbamazepine was the co-administered antiepileptic drug that mostly affected the pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam, increasing both Vd/F (61.30 L with carbamazepine and 39.10 L without carbamazepine, p = 0.007) and CL/F (6.71 L/h with carbamazepine and 3.91 L/h without carbamazepine, p < 0.001). The pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam was affected by gender, body mass index, and co-administration of carbamazepine. This study highlights the impact of several factors on the CL/ and Vd/F of levetiracetam when administered to refractory epileptic patients. The importance of its pharmacokinetic monitoring in clinical pharmacy stands out, thereby enabling the optimization of antiepileptic drug therapy.
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Yu L, Feng J, Yu Z, Dai H. Trends of anti-seizure medication use in pediatric patients in six cities in China from 2013 to 2018. Epilepsy Res 2020; 167:106448. [PMID: 32916644 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2020.106448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of the use and prescribing patterns of anti-seizure medications (ASMs) over a six-year period, and to provide real-world evidence on medicine utilization of pediatric patients with epilepsy in China. METHODS ASM prescriptions for pediatric patients written from 2013 to 2018 were extracted from the database of the Hospital Prescription Analysis Cooperative Project. Trends of ASM use were analyzed by total prescriptions, cost, age, sex, ASM class and specific ASM. Prescribing patterns of ASMs were also analyzed. RESULTS A total of 44,675 ASM prescriptions were extracted for analysis in this study. Throughout the study period, a slight increase of ASM prescriptions was observed from 6170 in 2013 to 8211 in 2018. Children aged between 6 and 18 years, accounted for 78 % of total prescriptions every year. ASM use in boys was about 1.5 times higher than that in girls. Newer ASMs were prescribed more than older ASMs during this period. Sodium valproate was the most frequently prescribed ASM in 2013, and its use decreased in girls in 2016. Levetiracetam increased from 19.10 % in 2013 to 28.09 % in 2018 and became the most common ASM at the end of this study. Meanwhile, the use of oxcarbazepine increased from 19.31 % to 22.04 %, whereas the use of lamotrigine had declined from 18.43 % to 10.72 %. Monotherapy (66.24 %) was more frequently used than combined therapy, which included dual combination (25.80 %) and triple or more combinations (7.96 %). CONCLUSION There is an increased ASM prescription trend in childhood usage. Levetiracetam has replaced sodium valproate as the most frequently prescribed ASM in pediatric patients. Newer ASMs with fewer side effects and drug interactions are increasingly utilized, which is consistent with evolving recommendations by the medical community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyan Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianhua Feng
- Department of Pediatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhenwei Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Haibin Dai
- Department of Pharmacy, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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