title: Conversions between monotherapies in epilepsy: expert consensus.
abstract: To develop expert consensus for conversion between antiepileptic drug (AED) monotherapies, an 11-member panel used the Delphi Technique over three rounds to: (1) identify relevant issues, (2) vote on the issues, and (3) develop consensus. The panel agreed on the basic principle to taper the existing AED only after a presumably efficacious dose of the planned AED was reached. Application is modified by adverse effects possibly attributable to the existing drug, in which case earlier or more rapid tapering of the existing drug should be considered. Patients with uncontrolled seizures, as well as seizure-free patients for whom driving privileges are a consideration, may benefit from slower tapering by smaller dosage decrements of the existing AED. For 10 of the 12 AEDs considered, the panel made titration recommendations concerning initial and target doses for the planned AED, supplementing limited data in the prescribing information. This expert guidance will aid in the period of transitional polytherapy with AEDs from monotherapy to monotherapy.
authors.affiliation: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. erik-stlouis@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Erik K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: St Louis
authors.forename: Barry E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Gidal
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Yevgenya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kaydanova
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krumholz
authors.forename: Paul H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: McCabe
authors.forename: Georgia D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Montouris
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
authors.forename: Brien J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Waterhouse
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Garnett
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bramley
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D032921:Consensus; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants