Continuous monitoring of plasma antiepileptic drug levels.
Quantitative knowledge of the fate of antiepileptic drugs in individual patients is useful in the prevention, explanation, and correction of subtherapeutic and toxicity-causing regimens. Several variables, such as age and co-medication, require adaptation of the regimen. An interactive computer-assisted laboratory reporting service provides a data base with epidemiological options that helps in the daily management of patients and can supply information on pharmacokinetic parameters, local, regional, and national drug utilization, and disease frequency. Some treatment variables are quantitatively predictable, but many others require individual monitoring of clinical, behavioral, and laboratory observations by a multidisciplinary team of experts. Intensive monitoring by an epilepsy team in an institution for mentally retarded patients has allowed conclusions on the value of therapeutic substances, reduction of the number of simultaneously administered drugs, and seizure registration.
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012984:Software
D000927:Anticonvulsants