Psychobehavioural and Cognitive Adverse Events of Anti-Seizure Medications for the Treatment of Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies
Strzelczyk, A., Schubert-Bast, S. Psychobehavioural and Cognitive Adverse Events of Anti-Seizure Medications for the Treatment of Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies. CNS Drugs 36, 1079–1111 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40263-022-00955-9
Some individuals with dup15q syndrome may also be considered to have a Developmental Epileptic Encephalopathy. Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy (DEE) refers to a group of severe epilepsies that are characterized both by seizures, which are often drug-resistant, as well as encephalopathy, which is a term used to describe significant developmental delay or even loss of developmental skills.
Important points:
- Patients with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies have significant neurodevelopmental comorbidities including cognitive, behavioral, psychiatric, and sleep impairments.
- Some anti-seizure medications have side effects that may contribute to these impairments, including levetiracetam and perampanel (aggressiveness and irritability), topiramate and zonisamide (language and memory problems), and lamotrigine (insomnia).
- Cannabidiol, fenfluramine, levetiracetam, brivaracetam, and lamotrigine may have positive effects on some aspects of cognition.
