Objective: To assess the prevalence of movement disorders in epilepsy patients taking antiepileptics drugs.

Background: A prospective longitudinal observational study was conducted for one year from March 2020 to Feb 2021 in the ‘Neurology out-patient Clinic under the Department of Neurology at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. All new and old cases (n=130) with the diagnosis of epilepsy who were on antiepileptics therapy, and met the inclusion criteria during the study period and had given written consent were enrolled.

Method: A prospective longitudinal observational study was conducted for one year from March 2020 to Feb 2021 in the ‘Neurology out-patient Clinic under the Department of Neurology at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. All new and old cases (n=130) with the diagnosis of epilepsy who were on antiepileptics therapy, and met the inclusion criteria during the study period and had given written consent were enrolled.

Results: A total of 130 patients with epilepsy were included in the study period, 54% were on monotherapy and 46% on polytherapy. 94 (86%) patients have CNS ADR, dizziness, somnolence and headache being most common. Levetiracetam was the most commonly used AED in our patients. Tremor was the most common movement disorder occurring in 7 patients (6.42%), mostly seen with the dual therapy of Valproate and Phenytoin, followed by dual therapy of Levetiracetam and Clobazam. Tremor characters were mild in severity, postural and intentional type and without rest component. Ataxia was second common reported movement disorder (5 patients) seen AED with Phenytoin monotherapy followed by combination therapy of valproate and Phenytoin. No patients reported features suggestive of bradykinesia and rigidity in our study.

Conclusion: Movement disorder is one of the common CNS ADRs among our patients, tremor and ataxia being predominant. Rest parkinsonism features were not reported in our patients, a contrast to previous studies. Further, multicentric study including a large study group might provide light on better evidence.

References: [1]. Zadikoff C, Munhoz RP, Asante AN, Politzer N, Wennberg R, Carlen P, Lang A. Movement disorders in patients taking anticonvulsants. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2007 Feb;78(2):147-51. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.2006.100222. Epub 2006 Sep 29. PMID: 17012337; PMCID: PMC2077655.

« Back to 2024 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/prevalence-of-movement-disorders-in-epilepsy-patients-taking-antiepileptics-drugs-in-a-tertiary-care-teaching-hospital-in-nepal/