Table 1 Potential problems reported with generic substitution of AEDs

Carbamazepine

Increased breakthrough seizures with generic substitution

Sachdeo and Belendiuk (1987), Welty et al. (1992), Koch and Allen (1987), Hartley et al. (1991), Berg et al. (2008), Hartley et al. (1990)

Failure of drug therapy with generic substitution

Meyer et al. (1992), Welty et al. (1992), Jain (1993)

Toxicity and increased serum levels with generic substitution

Gilman et al. (1993), Jumao-as et al. (1989), Reunanen et al. (1992)

Adverse effects with generics

Neuvonen (1985), Hartley et al. (1990), Olling et al. (1999), Garnett et al. (2005)

Phenytoin

Increased breakthrough seizures with generic substitution

Yamada and Welty (Yamada and Welty 2011), Berg et al. (2008)

Toxicity and increased serum levels with generic substitution

Soryal and Richens (1992)

Adverse effects with generics

Chen et al. (1982)

Valproate

Increased breakthrough seizures with generic substitution

Berg et al. (2008)

Failure of drug therapy

Margolese et al. (2010), Sherr and Kelly (1998)

Toxicity and increased serum levels with generic substitution

Levine et al. (2000)

Adverse effects with generics

Margolese et al. (2010), Sherwood et al. (1998), Wassef et al. (2005), Zarate et al. (1999), Schwartz et al. (2000)

Leviteracetam

Increased breakthrough seizures with generic substitution

Armstrong et al. (2010), Fitzgerald and Jacobson (2011), Chaluvadi et al. (2011)

Adverse effects with generics

(Chaluvadi et al. 2011)

Topiramate

Increased breakthrough seizures with generic substitution

Duh et al. (2009b)

Adverse effects with generics

Pineyro-Lopez et al. (2009)

Gabapentin

Increased breakthrough seizures with generic substitution

Berg et al. (2008)

Phenobarbital

Failure of drug therapy

Bankstahl et al. (2013)

Oxcarbazepine

Increased breakthrough seizures with generic substitution

Cook et al. (2009)

Lamotrigine

Increased breakthrough seizures with generic substitution

Makus and McCormick (2007), Nielsen et al. (2008)

Toxicity and increased serum levels with generic substitution

Srichaiya et al. (2008), Sabroe and Sabers (2008), Nielsen et al. (2008)

Adverse effects with generics

Andermann et al. (2007), Makus and McCormick (2007)

Primidone

Increased breakthrough seizures with generic substitution

Wyllie et al. (1987)

Zonisamide

Increased breakthrough seizures with generic substitution

Berg et al. (2008)