Felbamate Phenytoin

Anticonvulsants (barbiturates, including phenobar-bital and primidone carbamazepine felbamate phenytoin topiramate vigabatrin)... 

Phenobarbital Enhances phasic GABAa receptor responses reduces excitatory synaptic responses Nearly complete absorption not significantly bound to plasma proteins peak concentrations in Vi to 4 h no active metabolites tjy2 varies from 75 to 125 h Generalized tonic-clonic seizures, partial seizures, myoclonic seizures, generalized seizures, neonatal seizures, status epilepticus Toxicity Sedation, cognitive issues, ataxia, hyperactivity Interactions Valproate, carbamazepine, felbamate, phenytoin, cyclosporine, felodipine, lamotrigine, nifedipine, nimodipine, steroids, theophylline, verapamil, others... 

The last few years has seen an explosion in AEDs. Some of those mentioned above may fall by the wayside and others appear. At the time of writing, we could include felbamate, zonisamide oxcarbazepine and topiramate. They all appear to have a phenytoin-like action on sodium channels, although topiramate appears to also potentiate the action of GABA on GABAa receptors like the benzodiazepines but through a different site. 

Acetazolamide, allopurinol, aspirin, captopril, carbamazepine, chloramphenicol, chlorpromazine, dapsone, felbamate, gold salts, metronidazole, methimazole, penicillamine, pentoxifylline, phenothiazines, phenytoin, propylthiouracil, quinidine, sulfonamide antimicrobials, sulfonylureas, and ticlopidine... 

Fig. 8.29 Structures of known clinical CYP3A4 inducers nevirapine (A), troglitazone (B), phenobarbitone (C), efavirenz (D), probenicid (E), phenytoin (F), moricizine (G), felbamate (H), rifampicin (I) and carba-mazepine (J).

Drugs that may affect valproic acid include carbamazepine, charcoal, chlorpromazine, cholestyramine, cimetidine, erythromycin, ethosuximide, felbamate, lamotrigine, phenytoin, rifampin, and salicylates. Drugs that may be affected by valproic acid include carbamazepine, clonazepam, diazepam, ethosuximide, lamotrigine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, tolbutamide, tricyclic antidepressants, warfarin, and zidovudine. 

II.e. 5.2. Interactions between first and second generation AEDs. Felbamate raises plasma concentrations of phenytoin, valproic acid and carbamazepine. Clearance of tiagabine, topiramate and zon-isamide is increased in the presence of an enzyme inducer. Vigabatrin reduces phenytoin concentrations after 4-5 weeks of comedication (via an unknown mechanism). For tiagabine, the elimination half-life may be reduced by 2-3 hours in the presence of an enzyme-induction AED. Lamotrigine elimination is slower if given with valproic acid. Topiramate reduces elimination of phenytoin. 

Type I Block SRF by enhancing sodium channel inactivation Phenytoin Carbamazepine Oxcarbazepine Lamotrigine Felbamate ... 

While its mechanism of action has not been clearly established, felbamate shows some activity as an inhibitor of voltage-dependent sodium channels in a manner similar to that of phenytoin and carbamazepine. Felbamate also interacts at the strychnine-insensitive glycine recognition site on the NMDA receptor-ionophore complex. Whether this effect is important to its anticonvulsant activity is not clear. 

Felbamate appears to have multiple mechanisms of action. It produces a use-dependent block of the NMDA receptor, with selectivity for the NR1-2B sub-type. It also potentiates GABAa receptor responses. Felbamate has a half-life of 20 hours (somewhat shorter when administered with either phenytoin or carbamazepine) and is metabolized by hydroxylation and conjugation a significant percentage of the drug is excreted unchanged in the urine. When added to treatment with other antiseizure drugs, felbamate increases plasma phenytoin and valproic acid levels but decreases levels of carbamazepine. 

Partial seizures Carbamazepine Phenytoin Lamotrigine Valproic acid Oxcarbazepine Gabapentin Topiramate Levetiracetam Zonisamide Tiagabine Primidone, phenobarbital Felbamate... 

For simple and complex partial seizures and secondary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, the first line drugs are - carbamazepine, valproate and phenytoin. Second line drugs include - acetazolamide, clobazam, clonazepam, ethosuximide, felbamate, gabapentin, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, oxacarbamazepine, primidone, tiagabine, topiramate and vigabactin. 

For atypical absence, tonic and clonic seizures, first line treatment is with valproate and second line with acetazolamide, carbamazepine, clobazam, clonazepam, ethosuximide, felbamate, lamotrigine, oxacarbamazepine, phenobarbitone, phenytoin, primidone or topiramate. 

Mode of action. The specific site of action of felbamate is unknown. There is experimental evidence that felbamate blocks NMDA receptors, but less potently than carbamazepine, ethosuximide, phenytoin or valproate. It also modulates sodium channel conductance but does not enhance GABAergic function. In addition to its protective action against chemically induced seizures felbamate has also been shown to have a neuroprotective action in models of hypoxic ischaemia as induced by bilateral carotid ligation. 

In addition to phenytoin, carbamazepine, and lamotrigine, metabolically optimized analogs of these drugs, such as fosphenytoin and oxcarbazepine, show clinical promise. Other anticonvulsants that block sodium channels, among several mechanisms of action, include zonisamide, felbamate, topiramate, and valproate (Fig. 5). 

Phenobarbital Phenytoin Primidone Felbamate Lamotrigine Tiagabide Topiramate Valproate Zonisamide Clobazam Clonazepam Diazepam usually compensated by the effect of the added drug risk of toxicity when interfering drug is discontinued drug... 

Felbamate Clonazepam Diazepam Phenobarbital Phenytoin Valproate High risk of toxicity with phenytoin, phenobarbital, and valproate Inhibition of metabolism of the affected drug... 

Gamma-vinyl GABA Phenytoin Phenobarbital Felbamate Interaction inconsistent and usually of little clinical relevance Unknown... 

Carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital and primidone, felbamate, oxcarbazepine, and topiramate stimulate the metabolism of oral contraceptive steroids. 

Felbamate is a metabolic inhibitor and significantly increases blood concentrations of phenytoin (SEDA-19, 69) (SEDA-20, 61). 

Sachdeo R, Wagner ML, Sachdeo S, Shumaker RC, Lyness WH, Rosenberg A, Ward D, Perhach JL. Coadministration of phenytoin and felbamate evidence of additional phenytoin dose-reduction requirements based on pharmacokinetics and tolerabihty with increasing doses of felbamate. Epilepsia 1999 40(8) 1122-8. 

Increased effects (P450 3A4 inhibitors) cimetidine, danazol, diltiazem, erythromycin, troleandomycin, clarithromycin, fluoxetine, isoniazid, niacinamide, nicotinamide, propoxyphene, ketoconazole, itraconazole, verapamil,and valproate Decreased effects (P450 3A4 inducers) cisplatin, doxorubicin, felbamate, rifampin, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, theophylline... 

Remmel RE, Miller SA, Graves NM. Simultaneous assay for felbamate plus carbamazepine, phenytoin, and their metabolites by liquid chromatography. Ther Drug Monit 1990 12 90-6. 

Importantly, Loscher et al. found that carbamazepine, felbamate, gabapentin, lamotrigine, phenobarbital, and topiramate are substrates of ABCBl (P-gp) [38]. Crowe et al. also studied the transport of a variety of antiepileptic drugs including vigabatrin, gabapentin, phenobarbitone, lamotrigine, phenytoin, carbamazepine, and acetazolamide in colorectal tumor-derived Caco-2 cell monolayers. They found that only one antiepileptic, acetazolamide, is a weak ABCBl substrate [39]. 

Drug Interactions. Felbamate inhibits the clearance and increases the serum concentration of phenytoin, valproic acid, and phenobar-bital. The concentration of carbamazepine decreases in patients on concmrent therapy with felbamate secondary to enzyme induction however, the concentration of the 10,11 -epoxide metabolite increases. It is recommended that the dose of phenytoin, carbamazepine, and valproic acid be decreased by about 30% when felbamate is added. Felbamate does not appear to interact with either gabapentin or 1am-otrigine. Phenytoin and carbamazepine are enzyme inducers and have been shown to increase the clearance of felbamate. Interactions with warfarin also have been reported. ... 

Drug Interactions. Phenobarbital is a potent enzyme inducer and may increase the elimination of any drug metabolized by CYP450-or UGT-mediated metabolism. Valproic acid, phenytoin, felbamate, cimetidine, and chloramphenicol inhibit phenobarbital metabolism, necessitating a decrease in dose. Ethanol increases the metabolism of phenobarbital. ... 

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