Life Science Journal 2013;10(4) http://www.lifesciencesite.com 2315 New Versus Classic Antiepileptic Drug Therapy In Pediatric Epilepsy Ahmed A. Elberry a,b* , Hala E. Alnazzawi a , Afaf G. Almalki a , Asma'a A. Alqasimi a , Shahla'a H. Alzahrani a , Abdulrahman A. Alahdal a , Ameen M. Almohamadi a a Department of clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia b Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Beni Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt Email: berry_ahmed@yahoo.com Abstract: The current study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety between new and classic antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Children diagnosed with epilepsy from birth to 12 years old were included in the present study. All data were collected retrospectively and twenty six children were enrolled in the analysis. Predominant seizure types were generalized tonic-clonic and the classical drugs were the most commonly prescribed drugs. Five patients (19%) among those who were treated with classic drugs become seizure free compared to 1 patient only (4%) who became seizure free from those who were treated with new antiepileptics. No side effects were reported except for 2 patients receiving the classic drug, carbamazepine, who developed skin rashes and dizziness. In conclusion, the results of the current study showed that the classic AEDs remain essential and still considered as the first line treatment in pediatric epilepsy. [Ahmed A. Elberry, Hala E. Alnazzawi, Afaf G. Almalki, Asma'a A. Alqasimi, Shahla'a H. Alzahrani, Abdulrahman A. Alahdal, Ameen M. Almohamadi. New Versus Classic Antiepileptic Drug Therapy In Pediatric Epilepsy. Life Sci J 2013;10(4):2315-2319]. (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 309 Key words: Antiepileptics, pediatric, epilepsy 1. Introduction: Epilepsy is one of the classicist neurological conditions and is the most frequent neurodegenerative disease after stroke [1]. Approximately 10% of people in the United States will suffer a seizure, with 1% to 3% developing epilepsy. The annual incidence of epilepsy is about 50 per 100,000 with a prevalence of 5–10 per 1,000 [2]. In a previous study done by Al Rajeh et al. 2001, the prevalence of epilepsy in Saudi Arabia was 6.54=1000 population, where 28% was partial seizures, 21% was generalized seizures and 51% was also generalized seizures but without determination if that seizures had focal onset or not [3]. With drug treatment, 50% of the patients with epilepsy are completely controlled with drug treatment, while the frequency of seizures is reduced in 25% [4]. Over the past two decades, several new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have been developed and introduced to the market with the global aim of providing a better control of the seizures and a more favorable safety and tolerability over the so-called classic AEDs [5]. Starting from 1991, newer AEDs including lamotrigine, gabapentin, oxcarbazepine and pregabalin, have been developed and marketed primarily as add-on therapy in patients with epilepsy whom seizure fits were not well controlled by classical AEDs. However, newer AEDs are currently approved to treat epilepsy also as monotherapy [6] The number of drugs used to treat pediatric epilepsy has increased dramatically in the last decade due to development of new AEDs. Recently and since their approval, the prescription of the new AEDs have been increased whereas the classic AEDs as phenytoin and carbamazepine have been decreased [7]. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antiepileptic drug therapy in pediatrics and compare the efficacy and safety between classic and new antiepileptic drugs in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 2. Patients and methods A retrospective chart review was performed at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on children, from birth to 12 years, diagnosed with epilepsy based on clinical evaluation and electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities, who were treated with antiepileptic drugs from 2000 to 2012. The study was done after approval from KAUH review board and it was conducted to assess the efficacy and tolerability of antiepileptic drugs in children. All children with developmental delay, brain malformations, and inborn errors of metabolism were excluded from the study. Data were collected retrospectively regarding age, gender, seizure type, regimen (mono or multiple therapy), whether the patients improved or not, adverse effects and comorbid conditions . Thirty eight children who met the diagnostic criteria were enrolled. Among these children, 12 patients were excluded from the analysis: 8 patients had insufficient information regarding the treatment, and 4 patients were lost to follow-up. The data were collected randomly by computerized system. Drugs for acute use were excluded from the study.