Objective:The objective of this study was to analyse data on the use of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) in the period between 2001 and 2010 in the Republic of Croatia, i.e.examine the total use of anti-epileptic drugs, compare the volume of utilisation of traditional and newer anti-epileptic drugs, analyse and compare the use of anti-epileptic drugs by regional offices of the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance (HZZO), analyse and compare hospital and out-of-hospital use of anti-epileptic drugs, analyse the use of anti-epileptic drugs according to the medical diagnosis,as well as analyse and compare the use of anti-epileptic drugs with regard to the age of patients. Our objective was also to apply the DU90% (Drug utilisation 90% profiles) method in examining the use of anti-epileptic drugs and the DC90% (Drug cost 90% profiles) method in analysing their cost. With regard to all the obtained data, our main objective was to evaluate the quality of prescribing AEDs in the Republic of Croatia pursuant to the epilepsy treatment guidelinesthat are in force. Methods:The data on the use of anti-epileptic drugs were obtained from the electronic base of the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance (HZZO), while for the data on the costswe used the commercial database for the period between 2000 and 2008 (Pharmis). Drug utilisation is presented as DDD (defined daily dose) figure per 1000 inhabitants per day for out-of-hospital utilisation and as the absolute DDD figure for the in-hospital drug use, applying the standard ATC/DDD methodology of the World Health Organisation. There were 14 registered anti-epileptic drugs in Croatia in the analysed period.Methylphenobarbital, phenobarbital, primidone, phenytoin, ethosuximide, clonazepam, carbamazepine and valproic acidwere regarded as traditional AEDs.Oxcarbazepine, vigabitrin, lamotrigine, topiramate, gabapentin and pregabalinwere regarded as new AEDs. Regional utilisation was analysed according toregional offices of the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance (HZZO). Medical diagnoses according to the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-X revision) were dividedinto four groups, i.e. epilepsy, neurological disorders, mental disorders and others. Health insured citizens were divided into four age groups. DU90% (Drug utilisation 90% profiles) and DC90% (Drug cost 90% profiles) methods were applied to estimate the most frequently used anti-epileptic drugs that represent the greatest part of the cost.Results:The total utilisation volume of anti-epileptic drugsin Croatia in the year 2010 amounted to 7.22 DDD/1000 inhabitants per day, being in steadyincrease (181%, with the annual average increase of 20%). Carbamazepine is the most frequently used AED in Croatia, natrium valproate taking the second place and lamotrigine the third. The utilisation of the new anti-epileptic drugs shows a steady and significant increase (from 3.4% in 2001 to 29.4% in 2010), while the use of traditional anti-epileptic drugs is on the decrease (from 96% to 70%). There are no regional differences in prescribing the use of AEDs in Croatia. The majority of AEDs (from 94% to 96%) are issued in non-hospital pharmacies, while there is an evidenced tendency of the decreased hospital utilisation of AEDs. Around 70% of the total utilisation of anti-epileptic drugs is prescribed for the diagnosis of “epilepsy”, followed by mental disorders, other neurological disorders and all other disorders. The new AEDs utilisation share is on the significant increase (from 8% to 30.3%) in the “epilepsy” diagnosis group. The most frequently used AEDs with regard to the age of health insured citizenscan be found in the age groups above 25 yearsof age. The highest rate of utilisation share of AEDs is evidenced in those older than 65 years, more precisely, the use of new AEDs, which presents the highest rate of increase of new AEDs utilisation in all of our analyses. By applying the DU90% method we proved the prevalence of the use of traditional AEDs (primarily carbamezapine and valproate), the share of which is on the decrease due tothe greater use of new AEDs. The cost of the AEDs use in Croatia rose to a significantly higher degree (300%) than their actual use (81%), first of all due to the new AEDs (54.8% of the total cost in the year 2008).Conclusions: The results of this studyenable for the first time the insight into the pharmaco-epidemiological situation regarding the utilisation of anti-epileptic drugs in the Republic of Croatia, whilst indicating the need of further studies. The overall utilisation, the trend of utilisation increase and the choice of the most frequently prescribed drugs is comparable tothe data of the developed countries. What is also noticed in Croatia is the trend of the increaseof the AEDs cost, not in proportion with the increase of the volume utilisation, being the consequence of the greater use of new anti-epileptic drugs.DU90% and DC90% proved to be effective and simple methods in evaluating the quality of prescribing anti-epileptic drugs. This is why we can conclude that the results obtained by this AEDs analysis are in consistence with the evidence based medicine and good clinical practice of epilepsy treatment and indirectly point to an appropriate quality of prescribing anti-epileptic drugs in Croatia.