title: Seizure freedom with more than one antiepileptic drug.
abstract: Many people with epilepsy take antiepileptic drug (AED) polytherapy, although supportive evidence for the success of this strategy is sparse. Of 2881 treated patients registered in our database, 1617 (56%) have been seizure-free for at least the previous year, with 21% taking more than one AED (287 on two, 86%; 42 on three, 13%; 3 on four, 1%). There were 40 effective duotherapies and 28 triple therapies. Treatment with two or three but not four AEDs may be a useful therapeutic option for patients not responding to monotherapy. Further explorations of the best regimens for individual seizure types and epilepsy syndromes is required.
authors.affiliation: Epilepsy Unit, University Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland.
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Stephen
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Brodie
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants