Classic antiepileptic and new generation antiepileptic drugs:: gender differences in effectiveness and adverse drug reactions

Introduction. Women are more likely to suffer adverse drug reactions. Moreover adverse drug reactions differ depending on gender. The main objective of new generation antiepileptic drugs (AED) is to reduce adverse drug reactions while maintaining the same effectiveness as the classic ones. Objectives. a) To identify sociodemographic and clinical variables associated with being treated with new generation AEDs, and b) to compare effectiveness, averse drug reactions and quality of life among patients treated with monotherapy, either with classic or with new generation AEDs, examining the potential gender differences. Patients and methods. A survey among 990 patients aged 16-64 with epilepsy was carried out in 32 Spanish hospitals (response rate: 96%). For the purposes of this study patients treated with monotherapy (n = 496) were selected. The outcome variables were: effectiveness in seizure control, adverse drug reactions and three dimensions of the SF-36 questionnaire (vitality, mental health and self-perceived health status). Results. 21% or women and 8% of men were treated with new AEDs. Women were more likely to be treated with new generation AEDs. Moreover, age of epilepsy onset was also positively related to new AEDs and a gradient was found. Whereas no differences in effectiveness, adverse drug reactions or quality of life were observed among men, among women, those treated with new generation AEDs had less adverse drug reactions but, on the other hand, effectiveness for controlling seizures was lower. Conclusions. Women are more likely to be treated with new AEDs. Althought these new treatments seem to have less adverse drug reactions among females, their effectiveness in controlling seizures are lower than that of classic AEDs.