Table 1. Antiepileptic medication available in sub-Saharan Africa: drug loading, titration, and maintenance doses as well as side effects (in the order of their availability).

Antiepileptic medication	Starting dose	Titration (usual adult maintenance dose)	Side effects (list non-exhaustive)	Route of administration
Phenobarbitone	1. 30 mg p.o.	30–60 mg p.o. every 3 days (long half-life) (∼60–180 mg/day)	Fatigue, pronounced cognitive decline, headaches, ataxia, nystagmus, depression, agitation, aggression, hyperkinesia (children), megaloblastic anaemia,teratogenicity, vitamin K deficiency in new-borns; rapid titration in status: respiratory depression	Oral, i.v., s.c., i.m.
	2. (rapid) 50 mg i.v., s.c. or i.m. every 6 hours diluted 1∶10 with inj. water
	3. (status) 20 mg/kg i.v. diluted 1∶10 with inj. water (start with 200–400 mg) (maximum rate: 100 mg/minute)
Carbamazepine	200 mg p.o.	200 mg p.o. every 3 days (∼800–2000 mg/day)	Vertigo, double vision, nystagmus, ataxia, movement disorders, hyponatraemia, leucopenia, rash, nausea, fatigue, liver failure, teratogenicity	Oral
Phenytoin	1. 300 mg p.o.	25–50 mg p.o. per day (∼200–500 mg/day)	Vertigo, double vision, nystagmus, tremor, movement disorders, rash, megaloblastic anaemia, leuco-, thrombopenia, fatigue, acne, osteopathy, gingival hyperplasia, liver failure, irreversible cerebellar atrophy, teratogenicity; rapid titration in status: cardiac dysrhythmias, hypotonia	Oral, i.v. (beware of phlebitis)
	2. (rapid) 600 mg p.o. for 3 days
	3. (status) 1.5 g i.v. diluted 1∶10 with inj. water (first 250 mg as bolus, next 500 mg in 0.5 to 6 hours, next 750 mg in 1–24 hours according to clinic) (maximum rate: 20 mg/minute)