Felbamate is available in the United States but not in Canada.
Known as
Felbatol
Uses
A broad-specrum drug, effective against partial seizures (including secondary generalized tonic-clonic), primary generalized tonic-clonic, and tonic/atonic. It is somewhat effective against absence and myoclonic. Especially useful for sufferers of multiple seizure types (e.g. Lennox-Gastaut).
How to Use
Loading dose 600 to 800 mg/d, maintenance dose = 2400 to 4800 mg/d, bidaily or tridaily.
Side Effects
Rare but life-threatening adverse effects occur, such as aplastic anemia and liver toxicity. Therefore, use is restricted to highly refractory epilepsy. Dose-dependent adverse effects include nausea, anorexia, weight loss, insomnia, headache.
Precautions
Most carefully monitor blood counts and liver function for at least the first year of use. Increase vigilance if the patient has an autoimmune disease, is older than 12-years-old, female and has had adverse reactions to other antiepileptic drugs.
Interactions
- increases blood levels of phenytoin, phenobarbital, valproate
- decreases blood levels of carbamazepine
- decreases blood levels of oxcarbazepine
- blood levels increased by valproate
- blood levels decreased by phenobarbital, phenytoin and carbamazepine
- blood levels not changed by gabapentin, lamotrigine, topiramate, tiagabine, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, zonisamide
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The material offered at this site is to provide general information about epilepsy to the public. It is not intended to be taken as medical advice. Although all material presented at this site has been thoroughly researched and is believed to be correct, Epilepsy Ontario accepts no liability. Consult your physician and/or neurologist with any questions you have. People with epilepsy should never discontinue anti-epileptic medications or make changes in activities unless specifically advised to do so by an attending physician.
