[Five new antiepileptic agents approved during the 1990's--an observation study on the utilization of the new preparations in routine clinical practice].
Since 1990, five new antiepileptic drugs have been approved in Sweden for add-on therapy of partial epilepsy. The optimal use of these drugs has not yet been established. In a county general hospital, 75 of 382 adult patients with epilepsy were treated with newer antiepileptic drugs. Fifty-two continued treatment with a newer drug for one year or longer mainly because of improved seizure control. The newer drugs represented 18 per cent of total sales of antiepileptic drugs in the area served by the hospital but the corresponding cost was 70 per cent. Despite their higher price, use of the newer drugs seems justifiable when significant improvement of seizure control can be achieved.