Analysis of Method for Oral Administration of Powdered Dosage Form of Antiepileptic Drugs in Child Patients with Epilepsy

The methods for oral administration of the powdered antiepileptic drugs in 82 infant patients with epilepsy, who had been hospitalized in the Department of Child Neurology, were analyzed retrospectively for the 26 month term from the beginning of October 1993 to the end of December 1995. Of the antiepileptic drugs, sodium valproate (VPA) was prescribed the most. The powdered dosage form was the most frequently prescribed. Analysis of the method for taking pewders revealed the respective percentages of 36.6, 2.4, 4.9, 13.4, and 42.7%, for the ratio of suspension, jelly-like form, others,and intact. These results suggest that the dosage form is an important affecting the treatment of infant patients with epilepsy when prescribing antiepileptic medication is considered. Clearly essential is intensive research for developing a new dosage form of antiepileptic drugs for aiding in improving the quality of life of the child patients.