title: Pharmacotherapy in epilepsy - does gender affect safety?
abstract: Drug safety and gender issues in the treatment with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) involve considerations to reach an optimal balance between efficacy and adverse effects or toxicity. In this commentary safety issues relevant to AED therapy in women regarding drug interactions and teratogenic effects, and interactions between drugs and endogenous molecules in both genders are highlighted. Gender and safety issues are closely related. Careful clinical and pharmacological considerations are important and need close attention also in future studies and surveillance of existing AEDs and drugs in development.
authors.affiliation: a Programme for Pharmacy, Department of Life Sciences and Health, Faculty of Health Sciences , Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences , Oslo , Norway.|b The National Center for Epilepsy , Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.|c Department of Pharmacology , Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Cecilie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johannessen Landmark
authors.affiliation: b The National Center for Epilepsy , Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.|c Department of Pharmacology , Oslo University Hospital , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Svein
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: I Johannessen
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015195:Drug Design; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants
keywords: antiepileptic drugs; drug safety; gender issues; pharmacovigilance