Antiepileptic drugs: a study of 1028 cases registered by the São Paulo Intoxication Control Center

PURPOSE To illustrate the profile of the cases of intoxications by antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) registered within a large urban area during the period of 1 year. METHODS A cross-sectional observational study was performed in the Intoxication Control Center of the Sao Paulo City Hospital. We evaluated 6535 medical consults of intoxication cases involving prescription and over-the-counter drugs in 2001. We selected and analyzed the cases involving AEDs. Statistical analysis was performed in order to evaluate the frequency of different drug types and the circumstance of drug exposure. RESULTS The most frequently observed AEDs were phenobarbital, carbamazepine, diazepam, and clonazepam. The frequency of intoxication cases among different age groups did not significantly differ according to the drug type. The circumstances involving AEDs intoxication were analogous to the circumstances of the cases of intoxication involving all other medications (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS There are a large number of intoxications involving AEDs. Imposing a restriction access to AEDs can be deleterious to patients that depend on AEDs, however, a strict program of AEDs distribution should be considered to reduce the cases of AED intoxication.