The safety and tolerability of newer antiepileptic drugs in children and adolescents

Abstract

The newer antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) provide more therapeutic options and overall improved safety and tolerability for patients. To provide the best care, physicians must be familiar with the latest tolerability and safety data. This is particularly true in children, given there are relatively fewer studies examining the effects of AEDs in children compared with adults. Since we now have significant paediatric literature on each of these agents, we provide a comprehensive and current literature review of the newer AEDs, focusing on safety and tolerability data in children and adolescents. Because the safety profiles in children differ from those in adults, familiarity with this literature is important for child neurologists and other paediatric caregivers. We have organized the data by organ system for each AED for easier reference.