This Once-a-Day Epilepsy Drug Can Control Seizures

Eslicarbazepine acetate, a once-a-day epilepsy drug, can prevent onset of seizures as well as the twice-daily drug carbamazepine, new research reports.

Elinor Ben-Menachem, MD, Gothenburg University in Gothenburg, Sweden, and colleagues conducted a study with 815 patients newly diagnosed with partial seizures who were administered either eslicarbazepine or carbamazepine for a six-month period.

According to Ben-Menachem, “Seizure control is crucial. A once-a-day drug may help people stick to their medication schedule.”

Initially given the lowest level of three doses, the patients who suffered a seizure were bumped up to the second dosing level. A second seizure warranted the highest dosage level.

Findings indicated that 71% of those who took eslicarbazepine and 76% of the patients given carbamazepine were reported to be seizure-free after six months.

A year later, 65% of the patients who were given the once-daily drug were still seizure-free, compared to the 70% who took the twice-daily drug.

Considered a non-inferior study, the new treatment was found not clinically worse than the existing treatment.

Study findings will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 68^th Annual Meeting in Vancouver, Canada.