FDA approves new drug for severe epilepsy
By Dr. Locatelli
A new drug named Banzel™ (rufinamide) has recently been approved as an adjunct treatment for a severe form of epilepsy called Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS).
LGS usually begins before age four and can be caused by brain malformations, severe head injury, central nervous system infection, and inherited degenerative or metabolic conditions.
According to Eisai Medical Research, Inc., the company that manufactures Banzel, fewer than 200,000 people in the United States are affected by this condition. Patients with this form of epilepsy may experience periods of frequent seizures mixed with brief, relatively seizure-free periods. They suffer from varying types of seizures, including tonic (stiffening of the body, upward deviation of the eyes, dilation of the pupils, and altered respiratory patterns), atonic (brief loss of muscle tone and consciousness, causing abrupt falls), atypical absence (staring spells), and myoclonic (sudden muscle jerks).
Most children with LGS have some degree of impaired intellectual functioning or information processing, as well as developmental delays and behavioral issues.
The approval of Banzel offers another treatment option for patients who suffer from the most debilitating and severe types of seizures.
Do you or someone you know suffer from LGS? What success have you found with specific medications or therapies? We welcome you to share by leaving a comment!
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