Pregnancy and epilepsy: pharmacokinetic insights into antiseizure medications - PubMed
6 hours ago
- #pregnancy
- #epilepsy
- #pharmacokinetics
- Pregnancy alters the pharmacokinetics of antiseizure medications (ASMs), requiring careful monitoring to prevent breakthrough seizures.
- Both older and newer ASMs are examined, highlighting known data and gaps in knowledge.
- Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is crucial for optimizing ASM treatment in pregnant women with epilepsy.
- If TDM is unavailable, dose adjustments should consider seizure severity and documented pharmacokinetic changes of drugs like lamotrigine, levetiracetam, and oxcarbazepine.
- The primary objectives are effective seizure control, minimizing teratogenic risks, and ensuring fetal safety.