Fenfluramine: A Review of Pharmacology, Clinical Efficacy, and Safety in Epilepsy
Despite the availability of more than 30 antiseizure medications (ASMs), the proportion of patients who remain refractory to ASMs remains static. Refractory seizures are almost universal in patients with epileptic encephalopathies. Since many of these patients are not candidates for curative surgery...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Children |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/8/1159 |
| _version_ | 1827600425318088704 |
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| author | Debopam Samanta |
| author_facet | Debopam Samanta |
| author_sort | Debopam Samanta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite the availability of more than 30 antiseizure medications (ASMs), the proportion of patients who remain refractory to ASMs remains static. Refractory seizures are almost universal in patients with epileptic encephalopathies. Since many of these patients are not candidates for curative surgery, there is always a need for newer ASMs with better efficacy and safety profile. Recently, the anti-obesity medication fenfluramine (FFA) has been successfully repurposed, and various regulatory agencies approved it for seizures associated with Dravet and Lennox–Gastaut syndromes. However, there is a limited in-depth critical review of FFA to facilitate its optimal use in a clinical context. This narrative review discusses and summarizes the antiseizure mechanism of action of FFA, clinical pharmacology, and clinical studies related to epilepsy, focusing on efficacy and adverse effects. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:35:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-635dd2c957c748dda46a52c312ab1fb0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:35:51Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-635dd2c957c748dda46a52c312ab1fb02023-12-03T13:28:16ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672022-08-0198115910.3390/children9081159Fenfluramine: A Review of Pharmacology, Clinical Efficacy, and Safety in EpilepsyDebopam Samanta0Child Neurology Section, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 1 Children’s Way, Little Rock, AR 72202, USADespite the availability of more than 30 antiseizure medications (ASMs), the proportion of patients who remain refractory to ASMs remains static. Refractory seizures are almost universal in patients with epileptic encephalopathies. Since many of these patients are not candidates for curative surgery, there is always a need for newer ASMs with better efficacy and safety profile. Recently, the anti-obesity medication fenfluramine (FFA) has been successfully repurposed, and various regulatory agencies approved it for seizures associated with Dravet and Lennox–Gastaut syndromes. However, there is a limited in-depth critical review of FFA to facilitate its optimal use in a clinical context. This narrative review discusses and summarizes the antiseizure mechanism of action of FFA, clinical pharmacology, and clinical studies related to epilepsy, focusing on efficacy and adverse effects.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/8/1159seizureepilepsyrefractoryintractableserotoninchildren |
| spellingShingle | Debopam Samanta Fenfluramine: A Review of Pharmacology, Clinical Efficacy, and Safety in Epilepsy Children seizure epilepsy refractory intractable serotonin children |
| title | Fenfluramine: A Review of Pharmacology, Clinical Efficacy, and Safety in Epilepsy |
| title_full | Fenfluramine: A Review of Pharmacology, Clinical Efficacy, and Safety in Epilepsy |
| title_fullStr | Fenfluramine: A Review of Pharmacology, Clinical Efficacy, and Safety in Epilepsy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fenfluramine: A Review of Pharmacology, Clinical Efficacy, and Safety in Epilepsy |
| title_short | Fenfluramine: A Review of Pharmacology, Clinical Efficacy, and Safety in Epilepsy |
| title_sort | fenfluramine a review of pharmacology clinical efficacy and safety in epilepsy |
| topic | seizure epilepsy refractory intractable serotonin children |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/8/1159 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT debopamsamanta fenfluramineareviewofpharmacologyclinicalefficacyandsafetyinepilepsy |