More bills are being proposed that bar pharmacists from substituting antiepileptic drugs and immunosuppressants.

FDA finds increased risk of suicide in patients taking seizure drugs

New antiepileptic drugs are on the horizon to help treat this primordial medical condition shrouded in mystery and fear

A new, gel-based, delivery system containing a common benzodiazepine may provide a needed safety net for patients with epilepsy who are refractory to traditional mono- and combination pharmacotherapy and who experience bouts of increased seizure activity. Last month, Valeant Pharmaceuticals announced that it had received Food & Drug Administration approval to market Diastat AcuDial (diazepam rectal gel).

This year's American Academy of Neurology (AAN) meeting featured key drug trials for diseases ranging from epilepsy to Alzheimer's disease (AD) to multiple sclerosis (MS). About 1% of all children up to the age of 16 are affected by epilepsy. Despite broadened and improved pharmacologic options, about 25% of these are refractory to standard therapy. Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal, Novartis), a newer antiepileptic drug (AED), has been assessed and found to be safe and effective both as monotherapy and adjunctive therapy in children.

A 22-year-old woman, L.N., arrived at your emergency department after a "spell." Based on her symptoms and EEG findings, her physician has diagnosed the spell as a complex partial seizure that generalized to a secondary tonic-clonic seizure. L.N.'s neurological exam, physical exam, complete blood count, serum glucose, electrolytes, drug/alcohol screen, and lumber puncture were normal. However, while in the hospital, she experienced a second seizure, prompting her physician to consider antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy. Because L.N. is two months pregnant, her doctor requests a pharmacist consult. What do you recommend?

At American Academy of Neurology (AAN) meeting new guidelines for the treatment of epilepsy are released

Seniors and epilepsy is the focus of a new study by the U. of Minnesota

The risks associated with antiepileptic drugs.