Eslicarbazepine acetate: an update on efficacy and safety in epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder. Despite a broad range of commonly used antiepileptic drugs, approximately 30% of patients with epilepsy have drug resistance or encounter significant adverse effects. Eslicarbazepine acetate is a new central nervous system-active compound with anticonvulsant activity whose mechanism of action is by blocking the voltage-gated sodium channel. Eslicarbazepine acetate was approved by the European Medicines Agency and launched onto the European market in 2009 for adjunctive treatment in adult subjects of partial-onset seizures, with or without secondary generalization. This article provides an overview on the recent studies on eslicarbazepine acetate in the treatment of drug-resistant partial epilepsy. Efficacy and safety of this drug for partial-onset seizures were assessed in four randomized clinical trials with responder rates ranged between 17% and 43%. Adverse events were usually mild to moderate in intensity and the most common were dizziness, somnolence, nausea, diplopia, headache, vomiting, abnormal coordination, blurred vision, vertigo and fatigue. Eslicarbazepine acetate is not recommended below 18 years, but a published phase II trial had the main goal to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety of this drug in pediatric population. Eslicarbazepine acetate appears to be a safe and effective drug with a linear pharmacokinetics, very low potential for drug-drug interactions and therefore it can offer a valid alternative to current antiepileptic drugs. Additionally, it is undergoing investigation for monotherapy in subjects with partial epilepsy, and other neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Department of Paediatrics, University of Perugia, Italy. Electronic address: averrott@unich.it.
Alberto
A
Verrotti
Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Italy.
Giulia
G
Loiacono
Department of Paediatrics, University of Chieti, Italy.
Alessandra
A
Rossi
U.O. Neurologia, Azienda Sanitaria di Firenze, Firenze, Italy.
Gaetano
G
Zaccara
D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D003984:Dibenzazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003984:Dibenzazepines; C416835:eslicarbazepine acetate
Antiepileptic drugs; Epilepsy; Eslicarbazepine acetate; Pharmacoresistant epilepsy