New anti-epileptic drugs for the 21st century.
Publication/Presentation Date
5-1-2000
Abstract
Prior to 1993, there were only six major drugs available in the US for the treatment of patients with epilepsy. These included phenobarbital (PB), phenytoin (PHT), carbamazepine (CBZ), primidone (PRIM), valproic acid/sodium valproate (VPA) and ethosuximide (ESX). Of these drugs, VPA has the broadest spectrum of activity and ESX the most limited. Despite these six agents, as well as several secondary drugs, it is estimated that over 30% of patients have inadequate seizure control, while others, whose disease is adequately controlled, suffer from bothersome adverse events (AEs). Since 1993, ten new drugs have entered the worldwide market (not all in the US). Those released include felbamate (FBM), gabapentin (GBP), lamotrigine (LTG), topiramate (TPM), tiagabine (TGB), oxcarbazepine (OXC), levetiracetam (LVT), zonisamide (ZNS), clobazam (CLB) and vigabatrin (VGB). The purpose of this article is to review each of the above drugs, looking at efficacy, safety, tolerability and where they may play a role in the current treatment of epilepsy.
Volume
1
Issue
4
First Page
633
Last Page
674
ISSN
1465-6566
Published In/Presented At
McCabe P. H. (2000). New anti-epileptic drugs for the 21st century. Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy, 1(4), 633–674. https://doi.org/10.1517/14656566.1.4.633
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
11249508
Department(s)
Department of Medicine
Document Type
Article