title: Adverse effects of established and new antiepileptic drugs: an attempted comparison.
abstract: Seizures are but one aspect of the negative impact epilepsy has on patients' lives. Adverse effects of antiepileptic treatment may affect the patient's quality of life to an even greater extent than the occurrence of seizures. Adverse effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are common, and because the differences in efficacy are often marginal, adverse effects may be the most important factor in choosing the best AED for the patient. The search for more efficient and less toxic agents is constantly ongoing. Current evidence suggests that the new generation of AEDs is as efficient as the established AEDs and exhibits fewer adverse effects, but the scientific evidence from randomised clinical trials comparing established and new AEDs with each other is still pending.
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Neurology, Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rogvi-Hansen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gram
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D000078330:Oxcarbazepine; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000009:adverse effects; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000009:adverse effects; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects; D020888:Vigabatrin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D010672:Phenytoin; D020888:Vigabatrin; D000078330:Oxcarbazepine; D010634:Phenobarbital