[Adverse reactions and interactions of antiepileptic drugs in epileptic women]

To review the present knowledge related with gender differences in drug effects, with special emphasis concerning antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).

Women and men differ in their response to drugs and these differences can be sometimes clinically relevant. Adverse drug reactions are noticeably more frequent in women, probably due to a combination of cultural and biological factors. Gender differences related to antiepileptic treatment have been observed concerning alterations in bone mineral density and lipid profile due to several AEDs, lamotrigine induced rash and visual field loss caused by vigabatrin. It is also important to study potential drug interactions between AEDs and contraceptives, as well as hormonal replacement therapy (HRT). At this respect, the influence of AEDs on the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of contraceptives are well known, but no data are available concerning the effect of contraceptives on AEDs pharmacology. Likewise, data relative to the eventual interactions arising between HRT and anticonvulsant are lacking.

The knowledge about gender differences in the adverse drug reactions and interactions of AEDs is still limited; more information is necessary to optimize anticonvulsant treatment in epileptic women.