Anticonvulsants
Articles filed under Anticonvulsants. Part of CNS drugs.
Glutamate receptors
Overview of ionotropic (NMDA, AMPA, Kainate) and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR).
Pregabalin (Lyrica) not approved for fibromyalgia by the EMEA
EMEA didn’t approve treatment of fibromyalgia as a new indication for pregabalin (Lyrica).The CHMP was concerned that the benefits of Lyrica in fibromyalgia had not been shown in either the short or the long term.
Carbamazepine (Tegretol) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome: the manufacturer recommends genetic testing
The manufacturer of carbamazepine (Tegretol) updated the drug’s summary of product characteristics: ‘Before deciding to initiate treatment, patients of Han Chinese and Thai origin should whenever possible be screened for HLA-B*1502 as this allele strongly predicts the risk of severe carbamazepine-associated Stevens-Johnson syndrome’ Health Canada warned in March 2008 about carbamazepine’s side effects in
Zonisamide (Zonegran): FDA warns about risk of metabolic acidosis and issues recommendations
The FDA issued an alert (February 23, 2009) about the risk of metabolic acidosis in patients treated with zonisamide (Zonegran). An excerpt from the alert on this anticonvulsant adverse effect: Following a review of updated clinical data, the FDA has determined that treatment with zonisamide can cause metabolic acidosis in some patients. Zonisamide is indicated
Barbiturates review: a video lecture
Video lecture. Great study aid to review barbiturates for your pharmacology test. Thiopental, Phenobarbital, Methohexital and Pentobarbital.
Anticonvulsants MCQS for USMLE
Pharmacology questions on anticonvulsants. USMLE style MCQs for pre- test review. Developed by UMKC School of Medicine.
Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs): FDA requires warnings about suicidal thoughts and behaviors (suicidality)
The FDA will require manufacturers of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) to inclued a warning about the increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours when using these drugs. This is a transcript of the original press release dated Dec. 16, 2008: FDA Requires Warnings about Risk of Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior for Antiepileptic Medications The U.S. Food
Phenytoin and fosphenytoin linked to Stevens Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis
From the FDA website: FDA is investigating new preliminary data regarding a potential increased risk of serious skin reactions including Stevens Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) from phenytoin therapy in Asian patients positive for a particular human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allele, HLA-B*1502. This allele occurs almost exclusively in patients with ancestry across
Rufinamide approved as adjunctive for Lennox Gastaut syndrome
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug, Banzel (rufinamide), for use as an adjunctive (add-on) treatment for seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. “This approval offers another treatment option for patients who suffer from these debilitating, severe seizures,” said Russell Katz, M.D., director of the Division of Neurology Products in the FDA’s