Objective: To retrospectively investigate the use of antiepileptic drugs in 2

350 children with epilepsy in Zhengzhou Children’s Hospital

and to analyze the off-label use of antiepileptic drugs

so as to provide reference for rational drug use in clinic. Methods: A total of 2

350 children with epilepsy admitted to the outpatient department of Zhengzhou Children’s Hospital from Feb. 2019 to Mar. 2020 were extracted

and the general data

drug use and off-label drug use of the children were statistically analyzed. The influencing factors of off-label drug use were analyzed by univariate χ2 test and multivariate Logistic regression. Results: Of the 2

350 children with epilepsy

ages ranged from 35 d to 17 years

with more males than females in all age groups. Eight kinds of antiepileptic drugs were involved

and the highest use rate was sodium valproate

followed by levetiracetam and oxazepine. Totally 412 prescriptions (17.5%) of drug combination were collected. There were 337 prescriptions (14.3%) of off-label drug use and 363 medical orders of off-label drug use (12.8%)

among which 149 prescriptions were off-label age (5.2%)

164 prescriptions were off-label dose (5.8%) and 74 prescriptions were off-label administration frequency (2.6%). The incidence of off-label drug use in infants was the highest

and the drug use of off-label age in infants was the main type. The incidence of off-label drug use from high to low were oxacaxipine oral liquid

topiramate tablets

carbamazepine tablets and levetiracetam tablets. Univariate and multivariate Logistic analysis showed that age

gender and categories of drugs were independent influencing factors of off-label drug use. Conclusion: The medication of children with epilepsy in our hospital basically follows the principle of “monotherapy”. Off-label drug use is widespread in infants

especially in off-label age

and is more common in new antiepileptic drugs such as oxacaxipine and topiramate. Drug combination in younger male children is more likely to occur with off-label drug use.