Practical guidance for the management of adults receiving adjunctive cenobamate for the treatment of focal epilepsy-expert opinion

Epilepsy Behav. 2021 Oct:123:108270. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.108270. Epub 2021 Sep 8.

Abstract

Clinical trial results have demonstrated that adjunctive cenobamate (CNB) substantially decreases seizure frequency in adults with uncontrolled focal onset seizures with an acceptable and well-identified safety profile. This manuscript summarizes an expert panel's recommendations regarding optimized CNB treatment of epilepsies with focal onset seizures. Cenobamate, when slowly titrated to the target maintenance dose, represents an effective new antiseizure medication (ASM) with a comparatively high rate of seizure freedom relative to existing treatment options. This paper reviews selection of suitable CNB treatment candidates, realistic treatment expectations and goals, appropriate CNB target doses, and methods to mitigate or avoid potential adverse events. Cenobamate can be a promising therapeutic choice for adult people with epilepsy with focal onset seizures who do not reach adequate seizure control despite treatment with conventional ASMs.

Keywords: Cenobamate; Drug-resistant epilepsy; Focal onset seizure; Seizure freedom; Titration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Carbamates / therapeutic use
  • Chlorophenols
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Epilepsies, Partial* / drug therapy
  • Expert Testimony*
  • Humans
  • Tetrazoles

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Carbamates
  • Chlorophenols
  • Tetrazoles
  • Cenobamate