{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Dose reduction and discontinuation of concomitant antiseizure medications after initiating cenobamate: A retrospective review.
{Author}: Becker DA;Demko SA;
{Journal}: Epilepsy Res
{Volume}: 197
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2023 11 10
{Factor}: 2.991
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2023.107242
{Abstract}: This retrospective chart review examined dose reductions and discontinuations of concomitant antiseizure medications (ASMs) following cenobamate initiation and maintenance in patients with epilepsy treated at MetroHealth (Cleveland, OH) between 9/1/2020-9/26/2022. Concomitant ASM dose adjustments and treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were assessed. Efficacy (100 % seizure reduction) was examined among patients who received cenobamate for ≥ 3 months at data cutoff (including titration). As of 9/26/2022, 95 patients received cenobamate (mean age, 45.9 years; 48.4 % female, median exposure 7.5 months). Five patients (5.3 %) discontinued (n = 1 withdrawal by patient; n = 1 noncompliance; n = 3 adverse event). Among the 90 patients taking cenobamate at data cutoff, 50 % (45/90) discontinued ≥ 1 concomitant ASM, most commonly clobazam (n = 18), levetiracetam (n = 10), and phenytoin (n = 7); 21 patients (23.3 %) had additional concomitant ASM dose reductions, most commonly phenytoin (n = 6) and clobazam (n = 4). Sixteen patients received cenobamate monotherapy. Among 79 patients who received cenobamate for ≥ 3 months at data cutoff, 51.9 % (41/79) were seizure-free for ≥ 3 months. Of the 41 seizure-free patients, 58.5 % (24/41) were taking 100 mg/day of cenobamate. Sixteen of the 95 cenobamate-treated patients (16.8 %) reported 22 TEAEs. The most common TEAE was fatigue (n = 7). These data suggest that cenobamate therapy may allow reduction or elimination of polytherapy in some patients.