The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics
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ISSUE 1708
ISSUE 1708
August 5, 2024
Issue 1708
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Drugs for Epilepsy
August 5, 2024 (Issue: 1708)
When used for the appropriate seizure type,
antiseizure medications (ASMs) are roughly
equivalent in efficacy. In addition to the seizure type,
the choice of drug is usually based on factors such
as ease of use, spectrum of activity, adverse...more
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- Cenobamate (Xcopri) for focal seizures. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2020; 62:134.
- Clobazam (Onfi) for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2012; 54:18.
- Eslicarbazepine acetate (Aptiom) for epilepsy. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2014; 56:42.
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- In brief: Topiramate extended-release capsules (Qudexy XR). Med Lett Drugs Ther 2014; 56:e126.
- DS Reddy. Therapeutic and clinical foundations of cannabidiol therapy for difficult-to-treat seizures in children and adults with refractory epilepsy. Exp Neurol 2023; 39:114237. doi:10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114237
- Cannabis and cannabinoids. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2019; 61:179.
- Fenfluramine (Fintepla) for Dravet syndrome. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2021; 63:127.
- Ganaxolone (Ztalmy) for CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2024 August 19 (epub).
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- Vigabatrin (Sabril) for epilepsy. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2010; 52:14.
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- JT Schousboe et al. Liver enzyme inducing anticonvulsant drug use is associated with prevalent vertebral fracture. Osteoporos Int 2023; 34:1793. doi:10.1007/s00198-023-06820-9
- D Fan et al. Effects of valproic acid on bone mineral density and bone metabolism: a meta-analysis. Seizure 2019; 73:56. doi:10.1016/j.seizure.2019.10.017
- PJ Simm et al. Impaired bone and muscle development in young people treated with antiepileptic drugs. Epilepsia 2017; 58:1931. doi:10.1111/epi.13893
- DG Whitney et al. The effect of age when initiating antiseizure medication therapy on fragility fracture risk for children with epilepsy. Bone 2021; 149:115996. doi:10.1016/j.bone.2021.115996
- DS Reddy. Clinical pharmacokinetic interactions between antiepileptic drugs and hormonal contraceptives. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2010; 3:183. doi:10.1586/ecp.10.3
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- AM Pack et al. Teratogenesis, perinatal, and neurodevelopmental outcomes after in utero exposure to antiseizure medication: practice guideline from the AAN, AES, and SMFM. Neurology 2024; 102:e209279. doi:10.1212/wnl.0000000000209279
- KJ Meador et al. Effects of fetal antiepileptic drug exposure: outcomes at age 4.5 years. Neurology 2012; 78:1207. doi:10.1212/wnl.0b013e318250d824
- S Hernández-Díaz et al. Comparative safety of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy. Neurology 2012; 78:1692. doi:10.1212/wnl.0b013e3182574f39
- D Battino et al. Risk of major congenital malformations and exposure to antiseizure medication monotherapy. JAMA Neurol 2024; 81:481. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2024.0258
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- S Hernández-Díaz et al. Risk of autism after prenatal topiramate, valproate, or lamotrigine exposure. N Engl J Med 2024; 390:1069. doi:10.1056/nejmoa2309359
- KJ Meador. Risks of fetal exposure to topiramate. N Engl J Med 2024; 390:1141. doi:10.1056/nejme2401164
- CL Harden et al. Practice parameter update: management issues for women with epilepsy–focus on pregnancy (an evidence-based review): vitamin K, folic acid, blood levels, and breastfeeding: report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee and Therapeutics and Technology Assessment Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and American Epilepsy Society. Neurology 2009; 73:142. doi:10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181a6b325
- S Elmer and DS Reddy. Therapeutic basis of generic substitution of antiseizure medications. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2022; 381:188. doi:10.1124/jpet.121.000994
- AS Kesselheim et al. Seizure outcomes following the use of generic versus brand-name antiepileptic drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Drugs 2010; 70:605. doi:10.2165/10898530-000000000-00000
- MD Privitera et al. Generic-to-generic lamotrigine switches in people with epilepsy: the randomized controlled EQUIGEN trial. Lancet Neurol 2016; 15:365. doi:10.1016/s1474- 4422(16)00014-4
- M Holtkamp and WH Theodore. Generic antiepileptic drugs–safe or harmful in patients with epilepsy? Epilepsia 2018; 59:1273. doi:10.1111/epi.14439
- AS Kesselheim et al. Variations in pill appearance of antiepileptic drugs and the risk of nonadherence. JAMA Intern Med 2013; 173:202. doi:10.1001/2013.jamainternmed.997
- Inhibitors and inducers of CYP enzymes, P-glycoprotein, and other transporters. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2023 January 25 (epub). Available at: www.medicalletter.org/downloads/CYP_PGP_Tables.pdf.
- P Chen et al. Carbamazepine-induced toxic effects and HLA-B*1502 screening in Taiwan. N Engl J Med 2011; 364:1126. doi:10.1056/nejmoa1009717
- MC Smith et al. Dose adjustment of concomitant antiseizure medications during cenobamate treatment: expert opinion consensus recommendations. Neurol Ther 2022; 11:1705. doi:10.1007/s40120-022-00400-5
- Gabapentin encarbil (Horizant) for restless legs syndrome. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2011; 53:70.
- In brief: Respiratory depression with gabapentinoids. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2020; 62:81.
- In brief: A potentially fatal immune reaction to lamotrigine. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2018; 60:105.
- Pregabalin (Lyrica) for fibromyalgia. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2007; 49:77.
- Topiramate (Topamax) for prevention of migraine. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2005; 47:9.
- Two drugs for weight loss. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2012; 54:69.
- KM Gadde et al. Zonisamide for weight reduction in obese adults: a 1-year randomized controlled trial. Arch Intern Med 2012; 172:1557. doi:10.1001/2013.jamainternmed.99
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