Autism-Open Access
Open Access
ISSN: 2165-7890
ISSN: 2165-7890
Nanati Legese* and Henok Demeke
Every newly diagnosed patient with epilepsy should be initiated on appropriate monotherapy, based on the seizure type and the epilepsy syndrome. Anti-Epileptic Drugs (AED) poly pharmacy did not necessarily improve seizure outcome and could increase the propensity for side effects. This study evaluates the prevalence and factors associated with Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDs) polypharmacy among patients with epilepsy at Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital, Harar, Ethiopia. Hospital based cross sectional study was conducted on selected 252 patients from April–March, 2018. The collected data were analyzed by using Stata corp version 14, and the result was presented in the form of tables and figures. The overall prevalence of antiepileptic polypharmacy was found to be 24.2%. Variables such as, place of residence (AOR=3; 95% CI: 1.1-8.3), long duration of illness (AOR=5.8; 95% CI: 1.1- 30.3), drug non adherence (AOR=0.02; 95% CI: 0.01- 0.06), and complain of side effect (AOR=3.4; 95% CI: 1.1-10.8), were found to be significantly associated with antiepileptic polypharmacy. Variables such as age, sex, duration of treatment, substance use characteristics and repeated hospitalization were not found to be significantly associated with AEP. Prevalence of AED polypharmacy was found to be high among the current study participants. It is important for physicians, to choose AED appropriate for seizure type and epilepsy syndrome so that patients are maintained on mono therapy.
Published Date: 2023-03-01; Received Date: 2023-01-30