Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice
07:01

Electrophoretic Delivery of γ-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) into Epileptic Focus Prevents Seizures in Mice

Published on: May 16, 2019

Pharmacotherapy for children and adolescents with epilepsy

Alberto Verrotti1, Giulia Loiacono, Giangennaro Coppola

  • 1University of Chieti, Department of Pediatrics, Ospedale Policlinico, Via dei Vestini 5, Chieti, Italy. averrott@unich.it

Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy
|January 7, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Childhood epilepsy affects many children, with some remaining resistant to treatment. While newer antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) offer better tolerability, older AEDs remain crucial first-line treatments for specific epilepsy types.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Epileptology
  • Pharmacotherapy

Background:

  • Childhood epilepsies represent a significant neurological challenge in pediatric populations.
  • A substantial percentage of children with epilepsy (25-30%) exhibit refractoriness to current antiepileptic drug (AED) therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current literature on the treatment of childhood epilepsy.
  • To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of established and novel antiepileptic drugs in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature search of PubMed and abstract proceedings.
  • Analysis of published data focusing on treatment outcomes and side effect profiles.
  • Review of antiepileptic drug approvals and therapeutic guidelines since 1993.

Main Results:

  • Older AEDs remain effective and are often first-line treatments for specific epilepsy syndromes.
  • Newer generation AEDs, while approved for adjunctive and monotherapy, show limited evidence of superior efficacy over older agents in pediatric populations.
  • Second-generation AEDs appear to offer improved tolerability compared to older formulations.

Conclusions:

  • Established AEDs continue to be vital for managing childhood epilepsy.
  • While newer AEDs offer potential benefits, particularly in tolerability, they are not universally considered first-choice treatments for pediatric epilepsy.
  • Optimizing seizure control with minimal side effects remains the primary goal of antiepileptic therapy.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy09:57

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Published on: September 20, 2024

Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy10:22

Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy

Published on: December 6, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists01:14

Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists

Glutamate is a fundamental neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, playing a vital role in neuronal communication and various cognitive processes. Glutamate stands as the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its presence is crucial for the communication between neurons, underpinning essential processes such as synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, and plasticity. These functions are vital for higher-order cognitive processes, including learning and memory. The...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers01:08

Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers

Antiepileptic drugs are specialized medications that prevent seizures in individuals diagnosed with epilepsy. These drugs primarily function by blocking the movement of sodium ions through channels in the neuronal membrane, inhibiting the repetitive firing of action potentials often associated with seizures.
Sodium channel blockers modulate ion channels, particularly voltage-gated sodium channels. They block only sodium ion movement.
Among the most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs are...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators01:18

Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators

γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for their...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...