Original scientific paper
Increase of Classical Antiepileptic Drug Utilization in Croatia During the Process of Introducing the New Generation of Drugs
Ivan Bielen
Ljerka Cvitanović-Šojat
Petar Matek
Miljenka Planjar-Prvan
Abstract
During the last decade the process of introducing the new generation of antiepileptic
drugs (AEDs) has substantially changed the ways of treating epilepsy. Although a great
deal of information about the role of new drugs has been accumulated, much less attention
was paid to the impact of the new generation of AEDs on the utilization of classical
AEDs. In order to detect the relation between the new and classical AEDs, the data
about drug consumption in Croatia in the period 2000–2002 were analyzed. The main
results indicated that the growth utilization rate (15%) was more the result of increasing
consumption of the classical antiepileptic substances (in almost 2/3). It has been discussed
that one of the possible interpretations for this phenomenon could lie in the fact
that the continuing process of introducing the new AEDs was accompanied by a great
number of educational activities. These activities have led to greater awareness of the
facilities in treating epilepsy and consequently to a more active therapeutic approach,
which encompassed both generations of drugs, even more the older one.
Keywords
epilepsy; drug utilization; therapy
Hrčak ID:
28141
URI
Publication date:
15.12.2003.
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