Risks and benefits of generic antiepileptic drugs.
BACKGROUND
In most therapeutic areas, prescribing generic drugs seems to lower costs without sacrificing efficacy. The use of generic drugs for treating epilepsy may, however, be more controversial.


METHODS
A systematic review of the literature on generic antiepileptic drugs has been carried out based primarily on a bibliographical search in the Medline database.


RESULTS
Published studies are usually of a descriptive nature and are sometimes based on generic drugs that were approved in times when regulatory agency requirements were not as strict as they are now. Experts claim that a change in pharmaceutical formulations could cause seizure recurrence in cases that had been successfully controlled in the past, with severe effects on patients. Meanwhile, several health organizations have provided inconsistent recommendations on the use of generic antiepileptic drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
In order to obtain scientific evidence on the potential risks and benefits of interchanging branded and generic antiepileptic drugs, high methodological comparative studies are necessary. These studies could bring consensus about the role of generic drugs for treating epilepsy.
Gómez-Alonso
Juan
J
Neurology Service, Hospital Universitario Xeral-Cíes, Vigo, Spain. juan.gomez.alonso@sergas.es
Kanner
Andrés M
AM
Herranz
José Luis
JL
Molins
Albert
A
Gil-Nagel
Antonio
A
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016568:Drugs, Generic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D012306:Risk
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D016568:Drugs, Generic