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This Once-a-Day Epilepsy Drug Can Control Seizures
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Eslicarbazepine acetate, a once-a-day epilepsy drug, can prevent onset of seizures as well as the twice-daily drug carbamazepine, new research reports.
Eslicarbazepine acetate, a once-a-day epilepsy drug, can prevent onset of seizures as well as the twice-daily drug carbamazepine, new research reports.
Elinor Ben-Menachem, MD, Gothenburg University in Gothenburg, Sweden, and colleagues conducted a study with 815 patients newly diagnosed with partial seizures who were administered either eslicarbazepine or carbamazepine for a six-month period.
According to Ben-Menachem, “Seizure control is crucial. A once-a-day drug may help people stick to their medication schedule.”
Initially given the lowest level of three doses, the patients who suffered a seizure were bumped up to the second dosing level. A second seizure warranted the highest dosage level.
Findings indicated that 71% of those who took eslicarbazepine and 76% of the patients given carbamazepine were reported to be seizure-free after six months.
A year later, 65% of the patients who were given the once-daily drug were still seizure-free, compared to the 70% who took the twice-daily drug.
Considered a non-inferior study, the new treatment was found not clinically worse than the existing treatment.
Study findings will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 68th Annual Meeting in Vancouver, Canada.
