Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2025

Behavioral And Physiological Analysis In A Zebrafish Model Of Epilepsy
Published on: October 19, 2021
Expert-Agreed Practical Recommendations on the Use of Fenfluramine in Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies
Vicente Villanueva1, Victor Soto-Insuga2, Patricia Smeyers3
1Department of Neurology, Refractory Epilepsy Unit, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
Introduction:
Fenfluramine (FFA) represents the latest therapeutic option approved for seizure management in Dravet syndrome (DS) and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) for patients aged ≥ 2 years. This article provides expert guidance for optimizing FFA therapy to support clinical decision-making in these populations.
Methods:
A panel of Spanish experts specialized in developmental epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) has developed practical recommendations for the clinical use of FFA, focusing on key aspects of FFA management: mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics including drug interactions, titration, efficacy, safety and tolerability, contraindications, and considerations for its broader application in DEEs. The methodology adopted in this project was an expert-opinion, evidence-based approach.
Results:
The panel issued targeted recommendations, including a modified titration strategy slower than the product guidelines, adjusted for possible antiseizure concomitant medications, and management of other concomitant treatments. Key efficacy indicators, such as reductions in seizure frequency and severity of the most disabling seizures, were emphasized as core measures for treatment evaluation. Periodic assessments of non-seizure outcomes and daily life activities are recommended during follow-up to comprehensively capture treatment outcomes. The panel noted that their clinical observations align with positive findings from clinical trials, suggesting a potential role for FFA in other DEEs, tailored to individual electroclinical and etiological profiles.
Conclusion:
This article presents expert practical recommendations for the management and treatment optimization of FFA in patients with DEEs, supporting clinicians in achieving improved patient outcomes.
More Related Videos
10:23Equipment Setup and Artifact Removal for Simultaneous Electroencephalogram and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Clinical Review in Epilepsy
Published on: June 23, 2023
09:57Author Spotlight: Advancing Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery in Children Through Novel Biomarkers and Enhanced Localization
Published on: September 20, 2024
Related Concept Videos
Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists
Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Arteries of the Lower Limbs
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...