title: The ideal characteristics of antiepileptic therapy: an overview of old and new AEDs.
abstract: New and improved anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) have made the concept of choice, according to the individual prognosis and probable response to specific regimens, increasingly feasible. Inter-individual variability in syndrome severity and complexity make individualization necessary. We propose three categories of disorder control according to the individual objectives of the patient: (1) seizure control, (2) epilepsy control and ultimately, (3) "epilepsy cure"; the latter remaining a largely idealistic target today. An AED is likely to be successful if it exhibits "optimal" characteristics, such as drug efficacy, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, interactions and cost-effectiveness. This review discusses the "optimal" characteristics of add-on AEDs, which, in addition to seizure control, will contribute to the achievement of epilepsy control and therefore address the currently unmet clinical needs of epilepsy treatment.
authors.affiliation: Epilepsy Centre Kork, Landstr. 1, Kehl-Kork, Germany. b.j.steinhoff@telda.net
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Steinhoff
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mutani
authors.forename: K O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Nakken
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants