Prevalence and nature of patient-reported antiseizure medication side effects in a Swedish regional multi-center study

• Published in: Seizure (London, England) England), 2023-12, Vol.113, p.23-27
• Main Authors: Zelano, Johan, Nika, Olha, Asztely, Fredrik, Larsson, David, Andersson, Klara, Andrén, Kerstin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Epilepsy; Neurologi; Neurology; Side effects; Treatment
• ISSN: 1059-1311; 1532-2688; 1532-2688
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2023.10.016

•A study of patient-reported ASM side effects in a multicenter observational study.•A total of 40 % (05 %CI 36–45) out of 406 participants reported side effects.•The number of ASMs and age were significant risk factors for side effects.•Side effects remain a clinical concern. Side effects is one of the major clinical problems in epilepsy care. We assessed the prevalence of ASM side effects in participants in a large regional multicenter observational study in western Sweden and aimed to identify risk factors and inventory the nature of side effects with different ASM regimes. Cross-sectional analysis of survey answers and clinical characteristics of 406 adult participants recruited to a regional observational study between December 2020 and March 2023. Half of the participants had been seizure free for one year. Second-generation or newer ASMs were the most common. A total of 164 (40 %, 95 %CI: 36–45) patients reported side effects. Patients reporting side effects were younger (median 41 vs 47 years, p = 0.015), had more frequently experienced a seizure in the last year (p = 0.02), and were more often on ASM polytherapy (p