Third-generation Antiepileptic Drugs for Partial-onset Seizures: Lacosamide, Retigabine, and Eslicarbazepine Acetate

Review Article

Steve S. Chung. Third-generation Antiepileptic Drugs for Partial-onset Seizures: Lacosamide, Retigabine, and Eslicarbazepine Acetate. The European Neurological Journal., September 2009; 1(1): 1-12

Steve S. Chung

Affiliations: Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Submission date: 1st September 2009, Revision date: 17th September 2009, Acceptance date: 22nd September 2009

ABSTRACT

Despite the advent of new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), more than 30% of epilepsy patients remain poorly controlled with current AEDs. For these patients, combined administration of AEDs or the application of novel AEDs are the most appropriate therapeutic options when surgical treatment cannot be offered. Second-generation and more recently developed AEDs tend to offer new mechanisms of action and more favorable safety profiles than the first-generation AEDs. The purpose of this article is to compare and review the information on the molecular mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic profiles and the preliminary results of phase II and III clinical trials of three new AEDs – lacosamide (LCM), eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL), and retigabine (RTG).

Keywords: partial seizure, new anticonvulsant, lacosamide, eslicarbazepine acetate, retigabine, KCNQ channels, sodium channels
Correspondence: Steve S. Chung, MD, Department of Neurology, 500 West Thomas Road Suite 300, Phoenix, Arizona 85013, USA. Tel: +1-602-4066271; fax: +1-602-7980852; e-mail: sschunw.edu