Symptomatic or Cryptogenic Partial Epilepsy Initial treatment of partial epilepsy is typically with a ‘narrow-spectrum’ anti-epileptic drug, but some broad-spectrum anti-epileptic drugs can also be used. The strongest evidence supports oxcarbazepine as initial monotherapy. Among the traditional anti-epileptic drugs, there is evidence to support the use of valproate, carbamazepine, phenobarbital and phenytoin. However, these anti-epileptic drugs may have more side-effects than some of the newer medications. Clobazam, levetiracetam, lamotrigine and topiramate can also be used in the initial treatment of childhood partial epilepsy. The patient’s seizure frequency, seizure severity, co-morbid conditions, ability to swallow the dosing formulation and insurance status/prescription plan all influence the choice …
[ Continue Reading... ]Tags: Trileptal
Brand Name: Trileptal Active Ingredient: oxcarbazepine Indication: Treatment of partial epileptic seizures as monotherapy in adults or adjunctive therapy in adults and children as young as age 4 Company Name: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation Availability: Approved by FDA January 10, 2000 Trileptal: Introduction More than 2 million people in the US have some form of epilepsy. Seventy percent of them are adults. Although contemporary treatment approaches can provide full or partial control of seizures in about 85% of patients, some 15% of patients do not achieve this control, and many patients are virtually resistant to available drug therapies. Some patients …
[ Continue Reading... ]Brand Name: Zonegran Active Ingredient: zonisamide Indication: Adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial seizures in adults with epilepsy Company Name: Elan Corporation, plc Availability: Approved by FDA on March 28, 2000; Zonegran has been marketed under the trade name Excegran since 1989 in Japan Zonegran: Introduction Another new antiseizure medication has entered to drug arena, the latest in a spate of new drugs for partial onset epilepsy (see previous articles on Keppra and Trileptal). On March 28, 2000, the FDA approved Zonegran (zonisamide) to be used in addition to other drugs in the treatment of partial seizures in adults with epilepsy. Zonegran …
[ Continue Reading... ]Research has come a long way in providing effective treatment for people with epilepsy, but for some, it just is not enough. Despite adequate and therapeutic doses of medication, many still continue to experience several seizures a month. But according to researchers from the University of Michigan, a drug called oxcarbazepine may provide relief to those who continue to have a type of seizure known as a partial seizure, even if they have already been through the gamut of other medications. In their study, researchers found that oxcarbazepine, sold under the brand name of Trileptal, was safe and effective for this population. They followed 87 patients, some as young as 12 …
[ Continue Reading... ]