- Major Women’s Health Study Supports Hormone Replacement Therapy in Early Menopause
- Organic Walnuts Tied to Serious E. Coli Illnesses
- More Than Half of Cats on Farm Where Bird Flu Infected Cows Died After Drinking Milk
- Biden Administration Could Reclassify Marijuana as Less Risky Drug
- Americans of Pacific Island Ethnicity Have Up to Triple the Rate of Cancer Deaths
- How Anger Could Raise Your Heart Risks
- EPA Clamps Down on Deadly Toxin Found in Paint Strippers
- Popular Teens (Especially Girls) May Get Less Sleep
- Years Prior to Menopause Are Danger Zone for Depression
- School Entry Rules Boost Kids’ HPV Vaccination Rates
Aptiom Approved to Treat Seizures
MONDAY, Nov. 11Aptiom (eslicarbazepine acetate) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as an add-on drug to help treat adults with partial epileptic seizures.
Epilepsy, caused by abnormal activity in the brain’s nerve cells, is diagnosed in some 200,000 people annually in the United States, the agency said in a news release. So-called “partial” seizures are the most common type of seizure among people with epilepsy, triggering possible symptoms including repetitive movement of limbs, unusual behavior and convulsions.
Aptiom’s safety and effectiveness were evaluated in three clinical studies. The most common side effects noted were dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, headache, double vision and loss of coordination.
As with other anti-epileptic drugs, Aptiom may trigger thoughts of suicide in a small number of users, the FDA said. People who take the drug should contact a doctor immediately if they have thoughts of suicide, or worsening anxiety or depression, the agency warned.
Aptiom is marketed by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, based in Marlborough, Mass.
More information
To learn more about epilepsy, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Source: HealthDay
Copyright © 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.