Effects of Patient and Seizure-Related Factors on Drug Load in Seizure-Free Patients with Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy

Abstract

Introduction: Idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGEs) include four different epilepsy syndromes and IGE have mostly a good response to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). The most common IGE subgroup is juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME). It generally responds well to low doses of AEDs; however, some patients need higher doses of medication. In this study was hypothesized that patient and epilepsy characteristics of seizure‑free patients with high drug load might differ from those with low drug load. For this purpose, it was aimed to compare patients with JME and patients with other generalized epilepsies (non‑JME IGE) regarding these factors concerning drug load. Patients and Methods: The records of the epilepsy outpatient clinic from 2010 to 2020 were retrospectively evaluated for patients with IGEs. Patients without any epileptic seizures in the last year were accepted as seizure‑free. Drug load is calculated by dividing the prescribed daily dose by defined daily dose (PDD/DDD). A total drug load (TDL) equal to one and greater was considered as a high TDL (≥1, high‑TDL group), where a drug load of below one was considered as a low TDL (