[Long-term adverse effects of anti-epileptic drugs]

Abstract

Around 120,000 patients in Norway use anti-epileptic drugs daily. Their use has increased in recent years, partly because these drugs are also used for psychiatric disorders, migraine and neuropathic pain. Treatment usually lasts for many years. It is important for doctors to familiarise themselves with the adverse effect profile of these drugs, especially because the long-term adverse effects are generally insidious and are easy for both doctor and patient to overlook.