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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Rhys ThomasORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
© The Author(s), 2024. The goal of epilepsy treatment is seizure freedom, typically with antiseizure medication (ASM). If patients fail to attain seizure control despite two trials of appropriately chosen ASMs at adequate doses, they are classified as having drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Adverse events (AEs) commonly occur in people with DRE because they are typically on ⩾2 ASMs, increasing the potential for drug–drug interactions. Early emerging AEs may impact adherence, decrease quality of life, and delay achieving optimal treatment dosages. Cenobamate is an oral ASM with a long half-life which has proven to be highly effective in clinical trials. An international Delphi panel of expert epileptologists experienced in the clinical use of cenobamate and other ASMs was convened to develop consensus best practices for managing patients during and after cenobamate titration, with consideration for its known pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions, to allow patients to reach the most appropriate cenobamate dose while limiting tolerability issues. The modified Delphi process included one open-ended questionnaire and one virtual face-to-face meeting. Participants agreed that cenobamate can be prescribed for most patients experiencing focal-onset seizures. Patients initiating cenobamate therapy should have access to healthcare professionals as needed and their treatment response should be evaluated at the 100-mg dose. Patients with intellectual disabilities may need additional support to navigate the titration period. Proactive down-titration or withdrawal of sodium channel blockers (SCBs) is recommended when concomitant ASM regimens include ⩾2 SCBs. When applicable, maintaining a concomitant clobazam dose at ~5–10 mg may be beneficial. Patients taking oral contraceptives, newer oral anticoagulants, or HIV antiretroviral medications should be monitored for potential interactions. Because clinical evidence informing treatment decisions is limited, guidance regarding dose adjustments of non-ASM drugs was not developed beyond specific recommendations presented in the Summary of Product Characteristics.
Author(s): Steinhoff BJ, Ben-Menachem E, Klein P, Peltola J, Schmitz B, Thomas RH, Villanueva V
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders
Year: 2024
Volume: 17
Pages: 1-10
Online publication date: 14/06/2024
Acceptance date: 06/05/2024
ISSN (print): 1756-2856
ISSN (electronic): 1756-2864
Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd
URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/17562864241256733
DOI: 10.1177/17562864241256733
Data Access Statement: Data related to this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
