title: Risks and benefits of generic antiepileptic drugs.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Service, Hospital Universitario Xeral-Cíes, Vigo, Spain. juan.gomez.alonso@sergas.es
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gómez-Alonso
authors.forename: Andrés M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kanner
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Herranz
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molins
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gil-Nagel
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D016568:Drugs, Generic