title: Medication cost reduction in children on the ketogenic diet: data from a prospective study.
abstract: In a prospective study of the efficacy of the ketogenic diet in children with severe, refractory epilepsy, data were collected on medication changes over 1 year. Cost reductions in medications were calculated over the first year and estimated for a second year. Fifty-seven percent of the children stayed on the diet for 1 year, and 74% of these children had their number of medications reduced. Forty-eight percent of children who stayed on the diet were on no medications at 12 months follow-up. Daily medication costs were reduced by nearly 70%.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Epilepsy Center and the Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Pyzik
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Vining
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Freeman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016527:Drug Costs; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018565:Food-Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007662:Ketosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D004041:Dietary Fats