Prescription pattern in epilepsy in peadiatric age group in tertiary care teaching hospital

Epilepsy is a prevalent chronic neurological disorder in peadiatric population and Anti-epileptic Drugs (AEDs) have a narrow margin of safety.  The aim of this study was to analyse use of various AEDs and type of epilepsy prevalent in our population. In this study prescriptions for epilepsy from paediatric outpatient department, over five month period (from January 2015 to May 2015) were retrospectively analysed. Total of 160 prescreptions were analysed. 95 (59.3%) were female  and 65 (40.7%) were males. 70 (43.8%) patient belonged to 11-15 years of age group, 49 (30.6%) patient belonged to 6-10 years age group, 41 (25.6%)patient belonged to 0-5 years age group. Generalised Tonic Clonic Seizure (GTCS) was the most common diagnosed epilepsy (61.5%), followed by Partial seizure (30.6%) and Absence seizure (8.5%). 117 (73.1%) patient were prescribed monotherapy whereas polytherapy were given to 4 (2.5%) patient. 39 (25%) patient were given two drug combination. Sodium valproate was commonest monotherapy (53%) followed by Carbamzepine (29.9%), Phenytoin (8.5%) and Phenobarbitone (8.5%). Sod. Valproate with Phenytoin was commonest prescribed two drug combination (48.7%) followed by Sodium valproate with Phenobarbitone (28.2%). Among polytherapy Sodium valproate with Phenytoin and Levetiracetam were given to 3 patient. In this study GTCS was most common diagnosis and conventional AED were commonly used. Sod. valproate was commonest prescribed AED as monotherapy and in combination therapy . Keywords: Epilepsy, Anti-epileptic Drug (AED), Generalised Tonic Clonic Seizure (GTCS), Prescription pattern, Tertiary care hospital