Changes in the first anti-seizure medication prescribed for children and adolescents with epilepsy in a tertiary clinical center in Serbia over two decades.

OBJECTIVES

We assessed the prevalence of the use of new anti-seizure medications and valproate in the female population over two decades.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective observational cross-sectional study of medical records of children and adolescents (4 - 19 years old) with newly diagnosed epilepsy in a tertiary clinical center in Serbia from 1997 to 1999 and 2017 to 2019.

RESULTS

The statistical analysis revealed significant changes in the treatment of generalized and focal seizures and all etiologies of epilepsy. Valproate use in the adolescent girl population decreased significantly from 2017 to 2019.

CONCLUSION

The prescription pattern of the initial anti-seizure medication changed significantly over the two decades. The results correspond to current guidelines and recommendations.