[Adverse reactions and interactions of antiepileptic drugs in epileptic women].
OBJECTIVE
To review the present knowledge related with gender differences in drug effects, with special emphasis concerning antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).


METHODS
Women and men differ in their response to drugs and these differences can be sometimes clinically relevant. Adverse drug reactions are noticeably more frequent in women, probably due to a combination of cultural and biological factors. Gender differences related to antiepileptic treatment have been observed concerning alterations in bone mineral density and lipid profile due to several AEDs, lamotrigine induced rash and visual field loss caused by vigabatrin. It is also important to study potential drug interactions between AEDs and contraceptives, as well as hormonal replacement therapy (HRT). At this respect, the influence of AEDs on the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of contraceptives are well known, but no data are available concerning the effect of contraceptives on AEDs pharmacology. Likewise, data relative to the eventual interactions arising between HRT and anticonvulsant are lacking.


CONCLUSIONS
The knowledge about gender differences in the adverse drug reactions and interactions of AEDs is still limited; more information is necessary to optimize anticonvulsant treatment in epileptic women.
Pita Calandre
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Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad de Granada, Facultad de Medicina, Granada, 18012, España. epita@ugr.es
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones