New antiepileptic drugs

Abstract

In recent years, several new antiepileptic drugs have been introduced. These drugs are used as add-on therapy in patients whose epilepsy is not controlled by established treatments. Vigabatrin is used in partial or focal epilepsy and infantile spasms. Lamotrigine is particularly useful in treating generalised epilepsies. Gabapentin, topiramate and tiagabine are effective in the treatment of partial epilepsies, but their efficacy in generalised epilepsies is not established. All the new drugs have potential adverse effects, some of which may be serious, and their safety in pregnancy is unknown.