A Comparison Between Pharmacological Treatment Of Epileptic Patients With And Without Intellectual Disability. (P3.255)

OBJECTIVE: In this study we compare anti-epileptic drug (AED) treatment of intellectually disabled (ID) patients and those with normal intellect (NI). DESIGN/METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 100 epilepsy patients (50 ID and 50 NI and comparatively severe epilepsy), and recorded all current and past AEDs prescribed for epilepsy. RESULTS: Patients with ID were currently taking a greater number of AEDs (p=0.0001) and had been exposed to more AEDs in the past (p=0.005). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of past or present exposure to the newer AEDs as a group (lamotrigine, topiramate, levetiracetam, gabapentin, felbamate and tiagabine). Patients with ID were more likely to be currently taking an old AED (phenobarbital, primidone, phenytoin, carbamazepine or valproic acid) (p=0.01). More ID patients were currently taking (p=0.002) and had previously taken (p=0.004) a benzodiazepine (BZD) AED such as clonazepam, nitrazepam and clobazam. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ID were currently taking a greater number of AEDs (p=0.0001) and had been exposed to more AEDs in the past (p=0.005). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of past or present exposure to the newer AEDs as a group (lamotrigine, topiramate, levetiracetam, gabapentin, felbamate and tiagabine). Patients with ID were more likely to be currently taking an old AED (phenobarbital, primidone, phenytoin, carbamazepine or valproic acid) (p=0.01). More ID patients were currently taking (p=0.002) and had previously taken (p=0.004) a benzodiazepine (BZD) AED such as clonazepam, nitrazepam and clobazam.