Category: Drug Information

Obtaining Stiripentol in the United States

Harriet Davies, PharmD Stiripentol is not an FDA approved drug.  For the last several years, US citizens have been able to obtain stiripentol by ordering directly from Biocodex, France OR by ordering through Caligor Pharmacy, NY via the FDA’s Personal Importation Policy (PIP): http://www.fda.gov/forindustry/importprogram/importpolicyandinformationbyproduct/default.htm FDA’s PIP is discretionary, meaning the FDA has the right to […]

Emergency Administration of Rescue Medications

Purpose: to assist each child at the time of a seizure and when/if rescue medication administration is needed. Objectives: Upon completion of the rescue medication training, the participant(s) will demonstrate and/or verbalize the following competencies: Have a basic understanding of seizures and the different types and characteristics of each How to manage seizures Read medication […]

ICE Clinical Pearl

Vitamin B6 for behavioral improvement in children on Keppra (levetiracetam) Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) supplementation may be useful  in children with behavioral disorders associated with Keppra (levetiracetam).   While there are not well controlled clinical trials, Vitamin B6 is inexpensive and safe at appropriate doses.  The doses used were 100 – 200 mg/day with an average of […]

Role of Inflammation in Epilepsy and Treatment With IVIg

Melanie Siv, Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate, Wingate University School of Pharmacy 5/17/2010 Intractable Childhood Epilepsy Alliance Drug Information Rotation Harriet Davies, PharmD Rotation Advisor Abstract The aim of this article is to review evidence discovered regarding the link between epilepsy and inflammation including the use of IVIg for treatment in epilepsy. Trauma and infection in […]

Drug Selection with the Ketogenic Diet

Guidelines for Drug Selection in Patients on the Ketogenic Diet The following data has been compiled as guidance to be used when prescribing for children who are on the ketogenic diet.  Whilst best efforts have been made to ensure accuracy and completeness of the list, USERS MUST ENSURE THEY CHECK DETAILS WITH MANUFACTURERS, PHARMACISTS OR […]

Pharmacology for Epilepsy Patients

General Principles of Pharmacology for Epilepsy Patients and Their Caregivers Summary I recently attended a workshop for parents of children with epilepsy designed to gather opinions about the launch of an educational website. During the workshop, the following question was raised to this small group, “What information do you need from health-care providers to better […]

US Drug Approval Process

How much time and money does it take to bring a drug to market in the United States?  According to FDA estimates, it takes an average of 8 ½ to 17 years, from drug conception to marketing, before a drug is finally FDA approved for use in the general patient population.  An article published in […]

US Drug Carbohydrate Content

US Brand and Generic Drugs and their Carbohydrate Content Below is a list of AEDs (brand and generic) compiled by Yatin Patel, Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate of Wingate School of Pharmacy, August 2010 while at ICE for a Drug Information Rotation.  Dr. Harriet Davies has checked for accuracy of information.  This list represents generics and […]

SCN1A Patients Advised to Avoid Sodium Channel Blockers

Why Should Patients with SCN1A mutations AVOID sodium channel blockers such as Lamictal? Sodium channel blockers are anti-epileptic drugs that work in the sodium channel to preferentially affect the sodium channel at a specific stage of its cycle of rest, activation and inactivation, often by delaying the recovery from the inactivated state, thereby producing a […]

Alternative Therapy

Alternative therapies in treating epilepsy Yatin Patel Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate Wingate University School of Pharmacy Michelle Welborn, PharmD Preceptor Intractable Childhood Epilepsy Alliance www.epilepsytreatmentdrugs.com