title: Retigabine for partial onset seizures.
abstract: Ezogabine/retigabine (RTG) is a novel antiepileptic compound that activates a voltage-sensitive neuronal-specific outward potassium current that decreases neuronal excitability. RTG has been evaluated in three pivotal placebo-controlled randomized trials as adjunctive therapy in adult drug-resistant partial epilepsy. In comparison to placebo, adjunctive RTG effectively reduces seizure frequency. The relative risk of the responder rate (95% CI) was thus 1.71 (1.24-2.35), 2.18 (1.61-2.96) and 2.35 (1.72-3.22) for RTG 600, 900 and 1200 mg/day, respectively. The most common adverse events associated with RTG were nonspecific CNS side effects. No major effect on cardiac rhythm or conduction has been reported so far. Long-term open-label extensions of these three pivotal trials are underway. RTG has recently been approved both in Europe and in the USA for the adjunctive treatment of partial-onset seizures in adults aged 18 years and above.
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Neurology & Epileptology and Institute for Children and Adolescent with Epilepsy, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France. sylvain.rheims@chu-lyon.fr
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rheims
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ryvlin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002219:Carbamates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010655:Phenylenediamines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002219:Carbamates; D010655:Phenylenediamines; C101866:ezogabine