The Safety and Tolerability of Newer Antiepileptic Drugs in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

The newer antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) provide more therapeutic options and overall improved safety and tolerability for patients. To provide the best care, physicians must be familiar with the latest tolerability and safety data. This is particularly true in children, given there are relatively fewer studies examining the effects of AEDs in children compared with adults. Since we now have significant paediatric literature on each of these agents, we provide a comprehensive and current literature review of the newer AEDs, focusing on safety and tolerability data in children and adolescents. Because the safety profiles in children differ from those in adults, familiarity with this literature is important for child neurologists and other paediatric caregivers. We have organized the data by organ system for each AED for easier reference.

No signal of interactions between influenza vaccines and drugs used for chronic diseases: a case-by-case analysis of the vaccine adverse event reporting system and vigibase

“…In this context it is important to point out some epidemiological aspects. Epilepsy is the commonest serious brain disorder in the world [55]; its prevalence is estimated in about 50 million people worldwide [56] and the antiepileptic drugs still represent the mainstay therapy [57]. Furthermore, a high number of vaccine recipients are exposed yearly to influenza vaccination.…”