- Double Mastectomy May Offer No Survival Benefit to Women With Breast Cancer
- Toxic Lead Found in Cinnamon Product, FDA Says
- Certain Abbott Blood Sugar Monitors May Give Incorrect Readings
- Athletes Can Expect High Ozone, Pollen Counts for Paris Olympics
- Fake Oxycontin Pills Widespread and Potentially Deadly: Report
- Shingles Vaccine Could Lower Dementia Risk
- Your Odds for Accidental Gun Death Rise Greatly in Certain States
- Kids From Poorer Families Less Likely to Survive Cancer
- Tough Workouts Won’t Trigger Cardiac Arrest in Folks With Long QT Syndrome
- At-Home Colon Cancer Test Can Save Lives
Aptiom Approved to Treat Seizures
![](https://ladylively.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/public-health6-300x336.jpg)
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.