title: Utilization of antiepileptic drugs in Israel.
abstract: The aim of the study was to identify trends in utilization of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) over time in a nation-wide population in Israel.
  
  
  
  Data on AED utilization (for all indications) for the period 2010-2014 were obtained from pharmaceutical companies that distribute AEDs in Israel. Prevalence of AED utilization was reported as defined daily doses (DDD)/1000 inhabitants/day.
  
  
  
  The utilization of most AEDs included in our analysis remained stable over the study period. The greatest increases in utilization of drugs established in Israel were observed for lamotrigine (33%), oxcarbazepine (31%), and primidone (18%). Decreases in use were recorded for carbamazepine (18%) and phenobarbital (15%). Use of older AEDs appeared to be relatively high, compared with the use of newer AEDs.
  
  
  
  During the study period of 2010-2014, conventional AEDs remained a main treatment choice in Israel, in certain cases in contrast to current recommendations and guidelines, for reasons yet to be revealed in further research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Israel Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: erezberm@post.bgu.ac.il.
authors.forename: Erez
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Israel Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: ELI.MAROM@MOH.GOV.IL.
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marom
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Agnes Ginges Center of Neurogenetics, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: dekstein@hadassah.org.il.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ekstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: Ilan.Blatt@sheba.health.gov.il.
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Blatt
authors.affiliation: Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: sarae@ekmd.huji.ac.il.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eyal
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants
keywords: Antiepileptic drugs; Drug preparations; Drug utilization