Opinion of Belgian neurologists on antiepileptic drug treatment in 2006: Belgian study on epilepsy treatment (BESET‐2)

Objectives – (i) To describe the medical treatment of epilepsy in Belgium in 2006, (ii) to detect the presence or absence of consensus in epilepsy treatment and (iii) to analyze the evolution of the neurologists’ opinion between 2003 and 2006. Materials and methods – In December 2006, 100 neurologists were interviewed with a structured questionnaire, based on ordinal four‐point scales. The questionnaire contained questions on treatment choices in adult patients with epilepsy. The results of this survey were compared with results of a previous one done in 2003. Results – Initial monotherapy was the preferred treatment strategy. Valproate was first choice in idiopathic generalized epilepsy. Carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine were first choice in focal epilepsy with partial seizures. Valproate was also first choice in focal epilepsy with secondarily generalized seizures. New antiepileptic drugs were recommended in second line. However, in special treatment situations, they were considered first‐line, e.g. lamotrigine in case of women in childbearing age. In comparison with 2003, there was a trend of using earlier the new antiepileptic drugs. Conclusions – In end 2006, carbamazepine, valproate and oxcarbazepine were considered to be first choice drugs, whereas other newer drugs, like lamotrigine, levetiracetam and topiramate were predominantly prescribed in second line.