title: The rational use of antiepileptic drugs in children.
abstract: The general rules of antiepileptic drug therapy in children with epilepsy have been reviewed. The first step should always consist of making every effort to document the diagnosis of epilepsy and to determine the exact type of seizure. The choice of the appropriate antiepileptic drug is dictated entirely by the seizure type. Once the drug of choice has been selected, it should be given alone. If the first drug remains ineffective against the seizures at the highest tolerated dose, a second drug should be tried alone. Drug combinations may be justified in patients with resistant disease or in patients with multiple seizure types. Because of their relatively high metabolic rate, children require high dosages of antiepileptic drugs in relation to their body weight. Determining blood levels of antiepileptic drugs is particularly important in children, but it should be kept in mind that the therapeutic range is a relative concept and that it should not be applied blindly.
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Bourgeois
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants