New Antiepileptic Drugs: A review

Abstract

Approximately 20-30% of patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy do not bare their seizures controlled with currently available antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). The clinical need for new AEDs is therefore clear. In recent years, several norel AEDs bare been licensed around the world (felbamate, gabapentin, lamotrigine, oxcarbazepin, piracetam, tiagabin, topiramate, vigabatrin, zonisamid) and other promising drugs are in various stages of development (levetiracetam, fosphenyloin etc.) In this review, new AEDs (especially licensed drugs) and intravenous immunoglobuline theraphy are discussed and described a) their indications and administration strategy b) the therapeantic efficacy (including adverse effects), c) the clinical pharmacokinetics and d) the mecbanism of action.