ABSTRACT
Poor compliance with prescribed medications and their side effects are significant health problems in chronic disease states as epilepsy. This work aimed to study medication non compliance of epileptic children and the possible role of free radical injury in antiepileptic drugs side effects. The study was done on eighty-two epileptic children subjected to history taking, clinical examination and they were given antiepileptic drugs with follow-up for one year. Thirty healthy, age and sex matched children were studied as a control group. Complete blood count, liver and renal function tests were performed for all patients at the beginning and the end of study. Therapeutic drug monitoring for antiepileptic drugs given was performed for all patients. Nitric oxide [NO], superoxide dismutase [SOD] and malondialdehyde [MDA] were measured for all patients who developed any drug side effects, thirty patients without drug side effects chosen randomly, and control group. Unsatisfactory compliance was reported in 51% of cases. Serum levels of antiepileptic drugs were not matched with seizure outcome. Complicated regimens were associated with unsatisfactory compliance [P<0.05]. NO, MDA and SOD were significantly higher in both patients groups receiving antiepileptic drugs with or without side effects compared to control group. Also, these parameters were significantly higher in patients who developed side effects compared to patients without side effects to antiepileptic drugs [P<0.05]. It could be concluded that simple antiepileptic drug regimens are needed, focusing on drug compliance is essential by depending not only on drug levels but also on regular follow-up of patients and good physician- patients relation. Role of oxidant injury in producing antiepileptic drugs side effects is suspected and should be confirmed by further studies