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Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Antiepileptic Drugs in Women with Epilepsy Before, During, and After Pregnancy

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Abstract

During pregnancy, the pharmacokinetics of an antiepileptic drug is altered because of changes in the clearance capacity and volume of distribution. These changes may have consequences for the frequency of seizures during pregnancy and fetal exposure to antiepileptic drugs. In 2009, a review was published providing guidance for the dosing and therapeutic drug monitoring of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy. Since that review, new drugs have been licensed and new information about existing drugs has been published. With this review, we aim to provide an updated narrative overview of changes in the pharmacokinetics of antiepileptic drugs in women during pregnancy. In addition, we aim to formulate advice for dose modification and therapeutic drug monitoring of antiepileptic drugs. We searched PubMed and the available literature on the pharmacokinetic changes of antiepileptic drugs and seizure frequency during pregnancy published between January 2007 and September 2018. During pregnancy, an increase in clearance and a decrease in the concentrations of lamotrigine, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine’s active metabolite licarbazepine, topiramate, and zonisamide were observed. Carbamazepine clearance remains unchanged during pregnancy. There is inadequate or no evidence for changes in the clearance or concentrations of clobazam and its active metabolite N-desmethylclobazam, gabapentin, lacosamide, perampanel, and valproate. Postpartum elimination rates of lamotrigine, levetiracetam, and licarbazepine resumed to pre-pregnancy values within the first few weeks after pregnancy. We advise monitoring of antiepileptic drug trough concentrations twice before pregnancy. This is the reference concentration. We also advise to consider dose adjustments guided by therapeutic drug monitoring during pregnancy if the antiepileptic drug concentration decreases 15–25% from the pre-pregnancy reference concentration, in the presence of risk factors for convulsions. If the antiepileptic drug concentration changes more than 25% compared with the reference concentration, dose adjustment is advised. Monitoring of levetiracetam, licarbazepine, lamotrigine, and topiramate is recommended during and after pregnancy. Monitoring of clobazam, N-desmethylclobazam, gabapentin, lacosamide, perampanel, and zonisamide during and after pregnancy should be considered. Because of the risk of teratogenic effects, valproate should be avoided during pregnancy. If that is impossible, monitoring of both total and unbound valproate is recommended. More research is needed on the large number of unclear pregnancy-related effects on the pharmacokinetics of antiepileptic drugs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Inge J. Arfman & Daan J. Touw

  2. Academic Center for Epileptology Kempenhaeghe and Maastricht UMC+, Sterkselseweg 65, 5591, Heeze, VE, The Netherlands

    Elisabeth A. Wammes-van der Heijden & Danielle A. Lambrechts

  3. Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Isala Clinics, Zwolle, The Netherlands

    Peter G. J. ter Horst

  4. SEIN-Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland, Zwolle, The Netherlands

    Ilse Wegner

  5. Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Daan J. Touw

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  1. Inge J. Arfman
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  2. Elisabeth A. Wammes-van der Heijden
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Correspondence to Elisabeth A. Wammes-van der Heijden.

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Inge J. Arfman, Elisabeth A. Wammes-van der Heijden, Peter G.J. ter Horst, Danielle A. Lambrechts, Ilse Wegner, and Daan J. Touw have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this article.

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Arfman, I.J., Wammes-van der Heijden, E.A., ter Horst, P.G.J. et al. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Antiepileptic Drugs in Women with Epilepsy Before, During, and After Pregnancy. Clin Pharmacokinet 59, 427–445 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40262-019-00845-2

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