[The role of new antiepileptic drugs in childhood epilepsies].

INTRODUCTION

All over the last years an important number of new drugs to treat epilepsy have become available. Initially they were applied as an add-on therapy to conventional agents but their indications in monotherapy are already becoming defined.

OBJECTIVE

Giving an updated view of the actual situation of these antiepileptic drugs (AED).

DEVELOPMENT

We may refer mainly to those whose clinical applications are more clearly defined by the moment, namely, lamotrigine, vigabatrine, felbamate, gabapentin and topiramate. First we may review their modes of action, in most cases better known than those of conventional agents. Then we may refer to their side-effects which are not completely known, Finally we may refer to their specific indications in some types of seizures and epileptic syndromes.

CONCLUSIONS

Their efficacy may have to be evaluated further in a large number of comparative trials with conventional drugs. Their indications both in monotherapy and in polytherapy are to be fully defined and their toxicity profile is far from being completely known. Therefore, a conservative policy seems still justified, the more so as the cost of these agents is extremely high as compared to most conventional drugs.