Abstract
The effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on sleep structure are not well understood especially in patients with focal epilepsy. Overnight polysomnography was recorded in 20 patients with focal epilepsy with the aim to assess the impact of the different AEDs on sleep architecture. Sleepiness was rated on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and all patients completed sleep questionnaires. The control group consisted of ten volunteers without epilepsy and sleep disorders. The sleep findings were compared by using Wilcoxon sing rank test. Our findings suggest that Valporic acid increases non-significant stage I at insignificant reduction of sleep stage II and Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, as compared with the control group. Carbamazepine tends to decrease REM sleep and Lamotrigine has no significant effect on sleep. Our results confirm that AEDs have differing effects on sleep structure. Taking into consideration of these potential effects is important in maintaining optimal sleep in patients with epilepsy.
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