Paediatric Antiseizure Medication Use and Costs in France
⚠️ Pregnancy-related topic: medication, diet, and testing decisions must be made with your obstetrician and neurology team.
Source: The Lancet regional health. Europe
Summary
A recent study looked at how anti-seizure medications (ASMs) are used and their costs for children in France from 2014 to 2023. Researchers analyzed data from over 2 million children under 18 who were prescribed ASMs during this time. They wanted to understand trends in medication use, the rise of generic drugs, and any differences between boys and girls.
The study found that the number of children using ASMs increased by 24% over the decade. Newer medications, known as third-generation agents, became more popular, with a 70% rise in users. In contrast, the use of older medications decreased significantly. For example, the use of valproate, a common ASM, dropped by 37%, especially among girls, while medications like lamotrigine and levetiracetam saw substantial increases in use. Additionally, the percentage of generic medications prescribed rose from 11.2% in 2014 to 20.2% in 2023.
These findings are important because they show a shift towards safer and more effective treatments for children with epilepsy in France. However, the increase in generic medication use is still limited, which means there are opportunities to save money on treatments. By encouraging the use of generics, more funds could be available for new therapies without affecting the quality of care for children with epilepsy.
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