Advances in sample preparation techniques combined with analytical methods for the determination of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs)

Epilepsy continues to be a worldwide affliction. Monitoring antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) plays an important role in identifying the potential adverse effects of medications found in wastewater and adjusting doses, preventing drug-drug interactions, and minimizing patient adverse effects. Herein, this review article focuses on their applications and effects on the summarizing state-of-the-art solutions for AEDs' detection found in a variety of samples commonly employed for drug monitoring. Many of these new methods were easier to apply in the context of drug monitoring due to their simplicity, speed, and eco-friendliness. Apart from blood and its derivatives, alternative matrices (such as oral fluid, saliva, sweat, hair, wastewater, etc.) for drug testing have been widely explored owing to simple sample collection and potential representation of drugs in circulation. These advances have increased DM's availability to the public and made it more effective.