The rise and fall of felbamate as a treatment for partial epilepsy – aplastic anemia and hepatic failure to blame?

Abstract

Felbamate has been approved for refractory partial seizures since the early nineties. Due to safety concerns regarding its use, namely, in aplastic anemia and hepatic failure, felbamate’s use has been restricted and a ‘Black Box’ warning has been inserted. Nonetheless, it is a useful drug in refractory cases of partial epilepsy. There are certain precautions which can prevent and minimize the serious idiosyncratic reactions associated with felbamate, thereby providing an option in refractory cases where no other drug works.

KEYWORDS:

• partial seizure
• Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
• glutathione
• N-acetyl cysteine

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Acknowledgements

We thank the Department of Medical Writing and Clinical trials of Raptim Research for their support.