OBJECTIVE The primary aim of the current study was to use new methods to examine 1-year quality of medication dosing (adherence) and continuation with medication treatment (persistence) rates to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in children with newly diagnosed epilepsy. METHODS Medication-taking behaviors of AEDs were assessed using electronic monitors for 117 children with newly diagnosed epilepsy...

OBJECTIVE To review the guidelines for the use of psychoactive and antiepileptic drugs in childhood and adolescence. SOURCES OF DATA Literature review. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS The clinical indications, dosage and side effects of psychoactive and antiepileptic drugs are presented. The use of psychoactive drugs is increasing due to the release of new drugs and to the better understanding of e...

Introduction: Gingival enlargement is the term now used to describe medication-related gingival overgrowth or gingival hyperplasia, a common reactionary phenomenon that occurs with the use of several types of therapeutic agents, including antiepileptic drugs. This disorder has been recognized since 1939, shortly after the introduction of phenytoin. Methods: Review of literature concerning etiol...

Epilepsy is a very common neurological disorder with high prevalence and incidence. Several conventional antiepileptic drugs are being used for the treatment of various types of epilepsies. Over the last two decades, there has been a rapid expansion in the number and types of available antiepileptic drugs (AED). Newer AEDs are now available for the treatment of various forms of epilepsies. Lamo...

Here, we describe the alterations of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides that act on specific subreceptors in the brain areas involved in generalized epilepsy. A neurotransmitter imbalance between GABAergic and serotonergic neurons with hypoactivity and glutaminergic and dopaminergic neurons with hyperactivity is described. Considering the alterations in neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, neu...

BACKGROUND Encephalitis presents with seizures in the acute phase and increases the risk of late unprovoked seizures and epilepsy. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of antiepileptic drugs in pediatric patients with acute seizures due to encephalitis and epilepsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Cases of acute pediatric encephalitis between January 2000 and December 2010 were reviewed. Clinical dat...