Antiepileptic Drugs are getting better with Continuous Research and Development activities in the U.S. & U.K

 

Epilepsy also referred to as a seizure disorder in which nerve cell activity in the brain is disturbed causing seizures. Over 50 million cases of epilepsy are observed across the globe with 80% of them living in emerging economies. Generally, epilepsy is treated by medication, while some cases require surgery, devices, or dietary changes. Over the years, various antiepileptic drugs have been approved and introduced in the market. Each new antiepileptic medication is well tolerated and shows statistically significant improvements in seizure frequency over time compared to pretreatment. However, these medications each carry their own set of challenges and limitations that must be addressed to patients taking them.

Carbamazepine, a member of the benzodiazepine class, is antiepileptic drugs used to treat patients with symptomatic epilepsy and other forms of non-epilepsy epilepsy. It is typically administered intravenously or intramuscularly. Patients must be carefully monitored for allergic reactions and heart and blood pressure effects. Once a sufficient response has been achieved, carbamazepine is usually withdrawn and the patient maintained on maintenance treatment for epilepsy symptoms. This dosage is reduced once the disease is under control. Another member of this group of drugs, known as quetiapine, is relatively new to the epilepsy field. The exact mechanisms by which it works in treating epilepsy are not fully understood. It appears to function by altering the membrane permeability of the plasma membrane in a manner similar to anti-inflammatory medication.

This type of drug has been effective in reducing seizure frequency and duration by reducing the release of excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters in the brain, as well as by increasing the uptake of glycine by the glial cells. The research on antiepileptic continues across the globe, especially in the U.K., Italy, and the U.S. Recently, a U.K.-based company launched a new antiepileptic drug for people aged 16 years and above. Moreover, the U.S. FDA also approved a new treatment for adults with partial-onset seizures.