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Table 2 Pharmacokinetics characteristics of AEDs which may increase the probability of problems associated with their generic substitution

From: Potential problems and recommendations regarding substitution of generic antiepileptic drugs: a systematic review of literature

AEDs

Therapeutic range

Pharmacokinetics parameters

Narrow therapeutic range

Low water solubility

Nonlinear pharmacokinetics

Carbamazepine

4–12 μg/ml

Yes

Yes

Yes

Phenytoin

10–20 μg/ml

Yes

Yes

Yes

Valproate

50–100 μg/ml

Yes

No

Yes

Phenobarbital

20–40 μg/ml

Yes

No

No

Ethosuximide

40–100 μg/ml

Yes

No

Yes

Gabapentin

4–20 μg/ml

Yes

No

Yes

Lamotrigine

4–20 μg/ml

No

Yes

No

Levetiracetam

5–40 μg/ml

Yes

No

No

Oxcarbazepine

10–40 μg/ml

Yes

Yes

No

Topiramate

10–20 μg/ml

Yes

Yes

No

Tiagibine

100–300 ng/ml

Yes

No

No

Vigabatrin

0.8–36 μg/ml

Yes

No

No

Primidone

5–10 μg/ml

Yes

Yes

No

Felbamate

30–100 μg/ml

Yes

Yes

No

Zonisamide

10–40 μg/ml

Yes

Yes

Yes