Antiseizure medication shortages are associated with increased product switching: an analysis of levetiracetam

Abstract

Rationale: Product switching (brand/manufacturer or dose/formulation of the same drug) is associated with non-adherence and breakthrough seizures in patients with epilepsy. Rates of product switching and discontinuation were characterized in patients on levetiracetam (LEV) brands experiencing shortages in Australia, and compared with non-shortage periods to understand how antiseizure medication (ASM) shortages affect product switching and discontinuation in patients with epilepsy. LEV was chosen as the focus due to multiple shortages in the Medicine Shortage Information Initiative (MSII), widespread usage in multiple seizure types and ages, and limited use outside epilepsy. Methods: Data we..