Cenobamate Outperforms Other Medications for Focal Epilepsy

Source: JAMA neurology

Summary

This study looked at how effective and safe four different medications—brivaracetam, cenobamate, lacosamide, and perampanel—are for adults with drug-resistant focal epilepsy. The researchers analyzed data from nearly 2,000 patients who were treated at 71 epilepsy centers between January 2017 and January 2024. The main goal was to see how well these medications reduced seizures after six months of treatment.

The results showed that cenobamate was more effective than the other three medications. Patients taking cenobamate had a much higher chance of reducing their seizures by at least 50% after six months compared to those on brivaracetam, perampanel, or lacosamide. However, cenobamate also had the highest rate of side effects, while lacosamide had the lowest. Additionally, patients on cenobamate were more likely to continue their treatment after a year compared to those on brivaracetam and perampanel.

These findings are important because they provide real-world evidence about how these medications perform in everyday settings, which can help doctors make better treatment decisions. However, it’s worth noting that the study focused only on adults and may not apply to children or other populations. Also, while cenobamate showed better effectiveness, the higher side effect rate is something to consider when choosing a treatment.

Original source