title: Newer anti-epileptic drugs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A number of newer anti-epileptic drugs have been developed in the last few years to improve the treatment outcomes in epilepsy. In this review, we discuss the use of newer anti-epileptic drugs in children.
  MEDLINE search (1966-2013) was performed using terms newer anti-epileptic drugs, Oxcarbazepine, vigabatrin, topiramate, zonisamide, levetiracetam, lacosamide, rufinamide, stiripentol, retigabine, eslicarbazepine, brivaracetam, ganaxolone and perampanel for reports on use in children. Review articles, practice parameters, guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case series were included. The main data extracted included indications, efficacy and adverse effects in children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oxcarbazepine is established as effective initial monotherapy for children with partial-onset seizures. Vigabatrin is the drug of choice for infantile spasms associated with tuberous sclerosis. Lamotrigine, levetiracetam and lacosamide are good add-on drugs for patients with partial seizures. Lamotrigine may be considered as monotherapy in adolescent females with idiopathic generalized epilepsy. Levetiracetam is a good option as monotherapy for females with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Topiramate is a good add-on drug in patients with epileptic encephalopathies such as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and myoclonic astatic epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Lady Hardinge Medical College and associated Kalawati Saran Childrens Hospital, New Delhi, India. Correspondence to: Dr Satinder Aneja, Director Professor and Head, Department of Pediatrics, Lady Hardinge Medical College and associated Kalawati Saran Childrens Hospital, New Delhi, India. drsaneja@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Satinder
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aneja
authors.forename: Suvasini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants