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Clinical utility, safety, and tolerability of ezogabine (retigabine) in the treatment of epilepsy
Authors Ciliberto M, Weisenberg J, Wong M
Received 1 June 2012
Accepted for publication 25 June 2012
Published 26 July 2012 Volume 2012:4 Pages 81—86
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/DHPS.S28814
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 3
Michael A Ciliberto, Judith LZ Weisenberg, Michael Wong
Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
Abstract: One-third of patients with epilepsy continue to have seizures despite current treatments, indicating the need for better antiseizure medications with novel mechanisms of action. Ezogabine (retigabine) has recently been approved for adjunctive treatment of partial-onset seizures in adult patients with epilepsy. Ezogabine utilizes a novel mechanism of action, involving activation of specific potassium channels. The most common side effects of ezogabine are shared by most antiseizure medications and primarily consist of central nervous system (CNS) symptoms, such as somnolence, dizziness, confusion, and fatigue. In addition, a small percentage of patients on ezogabine experience a unique adverse effect affecting the bladder, which results in urinary hesitancy; thus, patients on ezogabine should be monitored carefully for potential urological symptoms. Overall, ezogabine appears to be well tolerated and represents a reasonable new option for treating patients with intractable epilepsy.
Keywords: antiepileptic drug, seizure, bladder, potassium channels
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