Characterisation of response to antiepileptic drugs

This study aimed to construct a database of 1500 newly diagnosed patients with epilepsy referred to the epilepsy unit at the Western Infirmary in Glasgow between 1982 and 2005. These patients commenced their first ever epilepsy treatment at the unit. The database included demographic, clinical and investigational information together with a detailed account of every drug regimen applied starting from the first AED prescribed until the last follow up appointment. Using this database, I was able to identify the efficacy and tolerability of different AEDs in relation to various demographic, clinical and pharmacological characteristics. This analysis provides a better understanding of the natural history of treated epilepsy, an informational aid for the future prescription choice of drug and/or drug combination according to different patient characteristics and facilitates the study of patients with intractable seizures from a pharmacological point of view