Clinical utility, safety, and tolerability of ezogabine (retigabine) in the treatment of epilepsy

ical utility, safety, and tolerability of ezogabine (retigabine) in the treatment of epilepsy Review (1786) Total Article Views Authors: Ciliberto MA, Weisenberg JL, Wong M Published Date July 2012 Volume 2012:4 Pages 81 - 86 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/DHPS.S28814 Received: 01 June 2012 Accepted: 25 June 2012 Published: 26 July 2012 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.