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Antiepileptic drug utilization in out-patients--a prescribing pattern study
L Peytchev1, I Atanasova, D Terziivanov
1Medical University, Department of Pharmacology and Drugs Toxicology, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
|October 1, 1996
Summary
Antiepileptic drug prescribing patterns in Bulgaria shifted significantly between 1985-1994. Phenobarbital was replaced by carbamazepine and valproates, with a move towards monotherapy for epilepsy treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Neurology
- Public Health
Background:
- Epilepsy management relies on antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).
- Understanding AED utilization trends is crucial for public health and treatment optimization.
- Bulgaria's healthcare system underwent changes during the study period.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trends in AED utilization in Bulgaria from 1985 to 1994.
- To identify shifts in the most prescribed AEDs and treatment modalities (monotherapy vs. polytherapy).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of data from 10,132 epileptic out-patients.
- Data sources included ambulatory cards and pharmacists' sales records.
- Drug utilization was quantified using DDD/1,000 inhabitants/year.
Main Results:
- Phenobarbital was the most prescribed AED in 1985-1989, used in both monotherapy and polytherapy.
- Carbamazepine and valproates largely replaced phenobarbital in 1990-1994.
- A significant shift from polytherapy to monotherapy was observed across all epilepsy types.
Conclusions:
- Bulgarian epilepsy treatment evolved, with a notable change in preferred AEDs and a move towards simpler treatment regimens.
- These findings highlight the dynamic nature of pharmacotherapy in epilepsy management over time.