Aims: To study the clinicoepidemiological profile of drug eruptions secondary to anticonvulsants among indoor patients in a tertiary care center.

Methods:  There were 31 patients with anticonvulsants induced cutaneous adverse reactions who were included from January 2015 to December 2017. Demographic characteristics of the patients, suspected drug, duration between drug intake and onset of reaction, medical history, physical examination and laboratory parameters were recorded.

Results: The mean age group of patients was 44.5 years with the male to female ratio of 2.1: 1. Interval between the drug intake and drug rash was a mean of 39.4 days. Most common presentation was maculopapular rash seen in 21 patients (67.7%) followed by Steven Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis. The most common offending drug was phenytoin in 23 patients followed by carbamazepine in 5. Abnormal eosinophil counts were seen in 12 patients (38.7%). Liver function abnormalities were seen in 10 patients (32.3 %).

Conclusion: Allergic drug rash to anticonvulsants is common. Phenytoin was the commonest cause. The commonest indication of using phenytoin was as a prophylactic agent in head injury.

Keywords: Adverse drug reactions, anti epileptics, maculopapular.

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Dr Mudita Gupta

Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, IGMC, Shimla, India