Table 2

Number of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) prescribed per patient, number of newer generation AEDs used*, and level of seizure control achieved in patients at enrollment and at the end of one-year follow-up (N=82).

VariablesAt the start of follow-up, n (%)At the end of follow-up, n (%)
Number of AEDs prescribed to control seizures
One AED0 (0)3 (3.7)
2 AEDs54 (65.9)44 (53.7)
3 AEDs23 (28.0)26 (31.7)
4 AEDS5 (6.1)9 (11)
Number of newer generation AEDs prescribed per patient
None28 (34.1)28 (34.1)
One AED40 (48.8)34 (41.5)
2 AEDs13 (15.9)20 (24.4)
3 AEDs1 (1.2)0 (0)
Level of seizure control (%)
<25%13 (15.9)12 (14.6)
25<50%4 (4.9)6 (7.3)
50<75%11 (13.4)15 (18.3)
75<10021 (25.6)20 (24.4)
100%33 (40.2)29 (35.4)
  • * When classifying AEDs, the following criteria were used: AEDs that were in clinical use before 1993 were considered to be older generation antiepileptic drugs, which include carbamazepine, phenytoin phenobarbital, ethosuximide, primidone, clonazepam, and valproic acid. While, AEDs approved for clinical use after 1993 were considered newer-generation drugs, including tiagabine, felbamate, gabapentin, oxcarbazepine, zonisamide, lamotrigine, topiramate, and levetiracetam16