Epilepsy

A survey of the newest antiepileptic drugs shows clinical progress and improved outcomes, but also room for improvement.

A team of neurologists and population health scientists from New York University (NYU) has issued a call to action to reduce deaths from epilepsy. They call for educational interventions and public health campaigns targeting medication adherence, psychiatric comorbidity, and other modifiable risk factors.

A recent study shows that 80% of multiplex families with epilepsy could be successfully classified into clinical syndromes using molecular genetics. Understanding the genetic component of epilepsy could strengthen genetic counseling and provide opportunity for improved intervention.

Analysis of clinical trials and a retrospective analysis of insurance claims data related to patients with epilepsy using eslicarbaz­epine acetate (Aptiom) were presented at the 2015 American Epilepsy Society annual meeting. The analysis demonstrated that eslicarbazepine acetate imparts quality-of-life benefits, improves depression, and reduces hospitalizations in patients with partial-onset seizures.

The authors of a Cochrane review of lacosamide add-on therapy for drug-resistant partial epilepsy have concluded that the medication performs better than placebo and is effective at daily doses of at least 200 mg.

The PatientsLikeMe.com website helps veterans with epilepsy to interact with each other and to report their adverse events and improvement, according to a recent article.

Patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy may benefit from a treatment regimen that includes cannabidiol (Epidiolex), a compound in medical marijuana that does not contain psychoactive properties.

Philadelphia, PA—Multiple formulations and generic equivalents of anti­epileptic drugs are prevalent, and choosing between them can help optimize seizure control and minimize adverse effects, said Carl W. Bazil, MD, PhD, Director, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, at the 2014 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) meeting.