title: Adverse effects of carbamazepine monotherapy among patients in Nigeria: a pilot study and implications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Antiepileptic drugs do cause adverse effects, affecting patients' quality of life, adherence and seizures. Consequently, there is a need to study this among Nigerian patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive cross-sectional study assessing the extent of adverse effects with carbamazepine monotherapy and potential factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  54 patients (64.3%) reported no adverse effects, while 30 did. The most common adverse effects were memory problems followed by headaches, restlessness, tiredness and depression. Adverse effects were significantly higher in females, with females with low educational levels having significantly higher rates. Dose, co-medications, seizure control and comorbid conditions did not significantly affect adverse effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perception of adverse effects was common in patients on carbamazepine monotherapy, more common in women than men. Educational status was important in women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics & Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adedunni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olusanya
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Lagos State University, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olayinka
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ogunleye
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden.|Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.|Health Economics, University of Liverpool Management School, Liverpool University, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Godman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics College of Medicine, Ekiti state University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fadare
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Danesi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine
keywords: Nigeria; adverse events; carbamazepine; epilepsy