Antiepileptic Drugs are getting better with Continuous Research and Development activities in the U.S. & U.K
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Epilepsy also referred to as a seizure disorder in which nerve
cell activity in the brain is disturbed causing seizures. Over 50 million cases
of epilepsy are observed across the globe with 80% of them living in emerging
economies. Generally, epilepsy is treated by medication, while some cases
require surgery, devices, or dietary changes. Over the years, various
antiepileptic drugs have been approved and introduced in the market. Each new
antiepileptic medication is well tolerated and shows statistically significant
improvements in seizure frequency over time compared to pretreatment. However,
these medications each carry their own set of challenges and limitations that
must be addressed to patients taking them.
Carbamazepine, a member of the benzodiazepine class, is antiepileptic
drugs used to treat patients with symptomatic epilepsy and other forms of
non-epilepsy epilepsy. It is typically administered intravenously or
intramuscularly. Patients must be carefully monitored for allergic reactions
and heart and blood pressure effects. Once a sufficient response has been
achieved, carbamazepine is usually withdrawn and the patient maintained on
maintenance treatment for epilepsy symptoms. This dosage is reduced once the
disease is under control. Another member of this group of drugs, known as
quetiapine, is relatively new to the epilepsy field. The exact mechanisms by
which it works in treating epilepsy are not fully understood. It appears to
function by altering the membrane permeability of the plasma membrane in a
manner similar to anti-inflammatory medication.
This type of drug has been effective in reducing seizure frequency
and duration by reducing the release of excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters
in the brain, as well as by increasing the uptake of glycine by the glial
cells. The research on antiepileptic continues across the globe, especially in
the U.K., Italy, and the U.S. Recently, a U.K.-based company launched a new
antiepileptic drug for people aged 16 years and above. Moreover, the U.S. FDA
also approved a new treatment for adults with partial-onset seizures.
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