Network analysis is an emerging tool for the study of complex systems. 
Antiepileptic drug (AED) polytherapy in children with medically intractable 
epilepsy may be considered a complex system, given the heterogeneity of drug 
combinations that are frequently modified according to clinical indications. The 
current article presents a concise review of network theory and its application 
to the characterization of AED use in children with refractory epilepsy. Current 
and previous AEDs prescribed to 27 children with refractory, 
localization-related epilepsy were recorded, and network theory was applied to 
identify patterns of drug administration. Of the fifteen unique AEDs prescribed, 
levetiracetam possessed the highest betweenness centrality within the network. 
Furthermore, first generation AEDs were often discontinued, while lacosamide and 
topiramate were most likely to be initiated. We also identified three 
subnetworks of AEDs that were commonly coadministered. We conclude that network 
analysis is an effective method to characterize the complexity of AED 
administration patterns in children with epilepsy with many promising future 
applications.