PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Albsoul-Younes, Abla AU - Gharaibeh, Lubna AU - Murtaja, Amer A. AU - Masri, Amira AU - Alabbadi, Ibrahim AU - Al-Qudah, Abdelkarim A. TI - Patterns of antiepileptic drugs use in epileptic pediatric patients in Jordan AID - 10.17712/nsj.2016.3.20150766 DP - 2016 Jul 01 TA - Neurosciences Journal PG - 264--267 VI - 21 IP - 3 4099 - http://nsj.org.sa/content/21/3/264.short 4100 - http://nsj.org.sa/content/21/3/264.full SO - Neurosciences (Riyadh)2016 Jul 01; 21 AB - Objectives: To determine prescribing patterns of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in pediatric patients with confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy, and to provide knowledge of general practice of physicians.Methods: The study was a multi-center cross-sectional observational study, in specialized clinics for management of epilepsy in north, central and south Jordan. This study was conducted from January 2014 to July 2014. These were 3 from university tertiary care hospitals and 4 from governmental tertiary care hospitals.Results: A total of 694 pediatric patients were included. Monotherapy AED use had the highest frequency 465 (67.0%), followed by dual therapy 162 (23.3%). The frequency of monotherapy in university hospitals was lower than governmental hospitals (p<0.05); however, Polytherapy was more frequent in younger children. Two old AEDs were most frequently prescribed as a monotherapy; Valproic acid 235 (50.5%) and carbamazepine 155 (33.3%). The most common combination in dual therapy was valproic acid with carbamazepine 28 (17.3%). The second most common combinations were carbamazepine with levetiracetam 21 (13.0%) or valproic acid with levetiracetam 20 (12.3%).Conclusion: Older AED remain first line drugs for use in both monotherapy and combination therapy for epileptic disorders. Polytherapy is associated with younger kids and being treated in a university hospital.