title: Felbamate.
abstract: After the first year of clinical experience, felbamate (FBM) appears to be a valuable antiepileptic drug (AED) for the treatment of intractable epilepsy. However, many patients experience side effects that may discourage continued usage. These may be decreased by using a slower dose-escalation schedule and/or by being more aggressive in decreasing co-medication. The most common troublesome side effects are nausea and insomnia. With the recent observation of aplastic anemia, FBM should be considered only for persons with intractable epilepsy under the care of a physician familiar with FBM. Nevertheless, many patients have benefited significantly from FBM and have made a decision to continue receiving FBM at the presently known risk profile. A few more years of experience may be needed to more accurately determine the final place of FBM in the treatment of epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: MINCEP Epilepsy Care, Minneapolis, MN 55416-1222, USA.
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Leppik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004347:Drug Interactions; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000078328:Felbamate; D006801:Humans; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D011409:Propylene Glycols; D000078328:Felbamate