Monitoring side effects of antiepileptic drugs

AEDs act through three main mechanisms: enhancement of inhibition via [GAMMA]-amino butyric acid (GABA); decreased spread of excitation; and altered sodium and calcium conductance in excitatory membranes ( Podell 2013a , 2013b ). A recent study indicated that phenobarbitone is more effective than potassium bromide at reducing seizure frequency and duration, but when safety data (including adverse effects) were also considered, there was no statistically significant difference between the two drugs as monotherapy AEDs ( Boothe and others 2012 ).