Factors associated with polytherapy in Indian patients with epilepsy

We studied factors associated with polytherapy in Indian patients with epilepsy, analyzing 100 consecutive patients receiving polytherapy, of whom 53 were characterized as good responders (≤50% reduction in seizure frequency), and 47 as poor responders (<50% reduction in seizure frequency). Thirty-one patients received more than one drug combination (MDC); the remaining 69 received a single drug combination (SDC) throughout the course of polytherapy. The various parameters influencing seizure control in poor versus good responders and MDC versus SDC groups were analyzed. Results showed that patients receiving polytherapy often had epilepsy of long duration (i.e., ≤5 years (52%)), frequent seizures (i.e., more than two seizures a month (41%)), secondary causes of epilepsy (32%), and multiple seizure types (31%). These characteristics were noted more often in poor responders and in the MDC group. Change in drug combinations did not affect the degree of seizure control in the MDC group. Computed tomography (CT) scan and serum drug levels did not aid in prognosis.