title: Recommendations for the treatment of epilepsy in adult patients in general practice in Belgium: an update.
abstract: In 2008, a group of Belgian epilepsy experts published recommendations for antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment of epilepsies in adults and children. Selection of compounds was based on the registration and reimbursement status in Belgium, the level of evidence for efficacy, common daily practice and the personal views and experiences of the authors. In November 2011 the validity of these recommendations was reviewed by the same group of Belgian epilepsy experts who contributed to the preparation of the original paper. The recommendations made in 2008 for initial monotherapy in paediatric patients were still considered to be valid, except for the first choice treatment for childhood absence epilepsy. This update therefore focuses on the treatment recommendations for initial monotherapy and add-on treatment in adult patients. Several other relevant aspects of treatment with AEDs are addressed, including considerations for optimal combination of AEDs (rational polytherapy), pharmacokinetic properties, pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic interaction profile, adverse effects, comorbidity, treatment of elderly patients, AED treatment during pregnancy, and generic substitution of AEDs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, 185 De Pintelaan, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Paul.Boon@Ugent.be
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boon
authors.forename: Sebastiaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Engelborghs
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hauman
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Lieven
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lagae
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Legros
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ossemann
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sadzot
authors.forename: Katrien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smets
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Urbain
authors.forename: Kenou
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: van Rijckevorsel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001530:Belgium; D015897:Comorbidity; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000592:standards*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants