Trends in antiseizure medications utilization among women of childbearing age with epilepsy in Poland between 2015 and 2019

•The use of valproate and carbamazepine decreased in WOCA with epilepsy in Poland.•Older ASMs have been replaced by lamotrigine and levetiracetam in fertile WWE in Poland.•Valproate is still the most commonly prescribed ASM in fertile WWE in Poland. To determine trends in the use of antiseizure medi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epilepsy & behavior 2023-02, Vol.139, p.109091, Article 109091
Main Authors: Wójcik, Katarzyna, Franciszek Kołek, Mateusz, Dec-Ćwiek, Małgorzata, Słowik, Agnieszka, Bosak, Magdalena
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use
Antiseizure medications
Benzodiazepines - therapeutic use
Carbamazepine - therapeutic use
Epilepsy
Epilepsy - drug therapy
Epilepsy - epidemiology
Female
Fertile women
Humans
Lamotrigine - therapeutic use
Levetiracetam - therapeutic use
Male
Oxcarbazepine - therapeutic use
Poland - epidemiology
Teratogenicity
Topiramate - therapeutic use
Valproic Acid - therapeutic use
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Summary:•The use of valproate and carbamazepine decreased in WOCA with epilepsy in Poland.•Older ASMs have been replaced by lamotrigine and levetiracetam in fertile WWE in Poland.•Valproate is still the most commonly prescribed ASM in fertile WWE in Poland. To determine trends in the use of antiseizure medications (ASMs) among women of childbearing age (WOCA) and girls aged 12–14 years with epilepsy between 2015 and 2019 in Poland. The study used data from the Pex database, which captures information on prescriptions dispensed from 85% of community pharmacies in Poland. The prescriptions issued by neurologists who provide epilepsy care in Poland were studied. Six of the most commonly prescribed ASMs were analyzed: carbamazepine, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, and valproate. The use of valproate and carbamazepine decreased in all age groups. Among the newer ASMs, the use of lamotrigine, levetiracetam, and topiramate increased and oxcarbazepine decreased significantly in WOCA. The only subgroup with statistically significant changes in all ASMs prescriptions were women aged 19–34 years. For girls aged 12–14 years, significant changes were found only for valproate and carbamazepine. In the last year of observation (2019) valproate and lamotrigine accounted for two-thirds of ASMs units prescribed to WOCA. Valproate accounted for half of the prescribed drug units in girls aged 12–14 years. The lowest rates of VPA prescriptions were found in women aged 19–34 years. There is a change in prescribing habits in WOCA with epilepsy in Poland with trends toward using less teratogenic ASMs. However, many WOCAs are treated with valproate and topiramate despite their known teratogenicity risk. Valproate is still the most commonly prescribed ASM in WOCA and girls aged 12–14 years. Educational interventions for healthcare professionals are needed to improve prescribing practices in WOCA with epilepsy in Poland.
ISSN:1525-5050
1525-5069
1525-5069
DOI:10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109091