Treatment Considerations in Anticonvulsant Monotherapy |
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| Authors: | B J Wilder |
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| Institution: | Neurology Service, Veterans Administration Medical Center;Department of Neurology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A. |
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| Abstract: | 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converted to monotherapy with a carefully monitored program in which troublesome and redundant drugs are gradually withdrawn from the therapeutic regimen. |
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| Keywords: | Epilepsy— Seizures— Therapy— Anticonvulsants— Valproate— Phenytoin— Phenobarbital— Drug-induced abnormalities— Pharmacology— Drug interactions |
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