Rufinamide: a new antiepileptic drug treatment for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome

• Published in: Expert review of neurotherapeutics Vol. 10; no. 6; pp. 851 - 860
• Main Author: Ferrie, Colin D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01.06.2010; Expert Reviews Ltd; Informa Healthcare
• Subjects: adult; adverse effect; Anticonvulsants; Anticonvulsants - adverse effects; Anticonvulsants - pharmacology; Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use; Antiepileptic agents; antiepileptic drug; Child; Children; Clinical trials; Clinical Trials as Topic; Data processing; Drug therapy; efficacy; Epilepsy; Epilepsy, Generalized - drug therapy; Geriatrics; Health aspects; Humans; Lennox-Gastaut syndrome; Metabolism; pharmacodynamics; Pharmacokinetics; randomized controlled study; Reviews; rufinamide; Seizures; Side effects; Syndrome; Triazoles - adverse effects; Triazoles - pharmacology; Triazoles - therapeutic use; United Kingdom
• ISSN: 1473-7175; 1744-8360; 1744-8360
• DOI: 10.1586/ern.10.51

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is a relatively rare epilepsy syndrome that usually begins in early-mid childhood and is characterized by multiple seizure types, particularly generalized seizures, which are often resistant to antiepileptic drug medication. Rufinamide is a new antiepileptic drug approved as adjunctive therapy to treat seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in those 4 years of age and older. In this article, the putative mechanism of action is described, along with data relating to its pharmacokinetics and metabolism. Key findings from clinical trials are presented and discussed. Adverse effects are summarized and compared with those encountered with competitor antiepileptic drugs. Finally, the role of rufinamide in the holistic management of subjects with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is considered.