Brand name to generic substitution of antiepileptic drugs does not lead to seizure‐related hospitalization: a population‐based case‐crossover study†. (23rd September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Polard, Elisabeth; Nowak, Emmanuel; Happe, André; Biraben, Arnaud; Oger, Emmanuel
• Is Part Of: Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety. Volume 24:Number 11(2015:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1161
• Page End: 1169
• Publication Date: 2015-09-23
• Subjects: crossover studies -- drugs -- generic/adverse effects/pharmacokinetics/*therapeutic use -- epilepsy/*drug therapy -- seizures/*prevention & control -- therapeutic equivalency -- pharmacoepidemiology; Pharmacoepidemiology -- Periodicals; Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; 615.705
• DOI: 10.1002/pds.3879
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1053-8569

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose: There is still controversy on brand‐to‐generic (B‐G) antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) substitution. Methods: To assess association between B‐G AED substitution and seizure‐related hospitalization, we designed a case crossover using the French National Health Insurance Database. We identified a cohort of adult patients who filled a prescription in 2009–2011 for AEDs with at least one brand name and one generic form. The outcome date was defined as the date of hospitalization, coded G40.x or G41.x, with a G40/G41 hospitalization‐free period of at least 1 year. Patients with a medical history of cancer and women who gave birth in 2009–2011 were excluded. We required individuals to have regular dispensations of AEDs within the year preceding the outcome date. Free patients were defined as patients who had only brand name dispensations before the control period. Results: Eight thousand three hundred seventy nine patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 52.7 ± 18.8 years; sex ratio male/female, 1.27) were analyzed. Discordant pairs were 491 with B‐G substitution in the control period only and 478 with B‐G substitution in the case period only; odds ratio (95% confidence interval) 0.97 (0.86–1.10). No statistically significant interaction was detected among the four prespecified subgroup analyses (gender, age strata, free or non‐free, and strict AED monotherapy or not). Controlling for non‐seizure‐related hospitalizations made no material difference. Sensitivity analyses yielded similar results. Conclusions: Brand‐to‐generic AED substitution was not associated with an elevated risk of seizure‐related hospitalization. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.