Banzel

Lennox Gastaut Syndrome

Treatment

2 FDA approvals

2 Active Studies for Banzel

What is Banzel

Rufinamide

The Generic name of this drug

Treatment Summary

Rufinamide is a drug used to treat seizure disorders like Lennox-Gastuat syndrome, a form of childhood epilepsy. It works by controlling the abnormal electrical activity in the brain that leads to seizures. Clinical studies have shown that it is effective in treating partial seizures.

Banzel

is the brand name

image of different drug pills on a surface

Banzel Overview & Background

Brand Name

Generic Name

First FDA Approval

How many FDA approvals?

Banzel

Rufinamide

2008

21

Approved as Treatment by the FDA

Rufinamide, also known as Banzel, is approved by the FDA for 2 uses such as Lennox Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) and Lennox Gastaut Syndrome .

Lennox Gastaut Syndrome (LGS)

Used in combination with other therapies

Lennox Gastaut Syndrome

Used in combination with other therapies

Effectiveness

How Banzel Affects Patients

At high doses, this drug prevents the production of glutamate by blocking the activity of a certain type of brain receptor (mGluR5).

How Banzel works in the body

Rufinamide is a medication used to treat epilepsy. It works by making it harder for electric signals to spread through the brain, which helps to stop seizures from happening. It does this by making voltage-gated sodium channels stay inactive for longer, which helps to stabilize the brain's membranes.

When to interrupt dosage

The prescribed measure of Banzel is contingent upon the recognized condition. The amount of dosage also depends on the technique of delivery outlined in the table beneath.

Condition

Dosage

Administration

Lennox Gastaut Syndrome

, 200.0 mg, 400.0 mg, 40.0 mg/mL, 100.0 mg

, Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Suspension, Tablet, film coated, Suspension - Oral, Tablet, Tablet - Oral

Warnings

Banzel has one restriction. It should not be administered when enduring the conditions presented in the following table.

Banzel Contraindications

Condition

Risk Level

Notes

familial short QT syndrome

Do Not Combine

There are 20 known major drug interactions with Banzel.

Common Banzel Drug Interactions

Drug Name

Risk Level

Description

Abemaciclib

Major

The metabolism of Abemaciclib can be increased when combined with Rufinamide.

Acalabrutinib

Major

The metabolism of Acalabrutinib can be increased when combined with Rufinamide.

Alectinib

Major

The metabolism of Alectinib can be increased when combined with Rufinamide.

Alpelisib

Major

The metabolism of Alpelisib can be increased when combined with Rufinamide.

Aminophylline

Major

The metabolism of Aminophylline can be increased when combined with Rufinamide.

Banzel Toxicity & Overdose Risk

Common side effects of this drug include headache, dizziness, tiredness, drowsiness, and nausea.

image of a doctor in a lab doing drug, clinical research

Banzel Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Banzel?

Currently, 4 active trials are examining the utility of Banzel for treatment of Lennox Gastaut Syndrome (LGS).

Condition

Clinical Trials

Trial Phases

Lennox Gastaut Syndrome

2 Actively Recruiting

Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 4

Banzel Reviews: What are patients saying about Banzel?

5

Patient Review

9/29/2014

Banzel for Petit Mal Epilepsy with Multiple Seizure Types

I didn't think this medication was working well at first, but when the doctor tried reducing my dosage I realized just how much it was helping me.

5

Patient Review

10/7/2014

Banzel for Petit Mal Epilepsy with Multiple Seizure Types

This is by far the best medication I have taken.

4.7

Patient Review

2/1/2011

Banzel for Petit Mal Epilepsy with Multiple Seizure Types

This treatment has been really helpful for me. It's made a big difference in my life.

4.3

Patient Review

2/17/2014

Banzel for Petit Mal Epilepsy with Multiple Seizure Types

This medication has been incredibly helpful, reducing my seizure frequency from 8 a day to just 4 or 6. The only downside is the price tag; it's quite expensive at $2400 per month.

3.7

Patient Review

8/17/2010

Banzel for Epilepsy of the Lennox Gastaut Syndrome

My daughter was having tonic seizures every 5 minutes, despite also taking dilantil, felbatol, keppra, and klonopin. Banzel was added around March 2010, and by August 2010 we'd increased the dosage to 1600mg per day. The effect was amazing, but getting there was tough – she vomited a lot. Now as long as we feed her before she takes the meds, she's fine. She's 30 years old and has been disabled since birth due to uncontrolled seizures. This drug seems to be working for her.

3.7

Patient Review

4/26/2011

Banzel for Petit Mal Epilepsy with Multiple Seizure Types

This medication has helped my son to some degree, but he is still experiencing drop seizures.

3.7

Patient Review

8/24/2009

Banzel for Petit Mal Epilepsy with Multiple Seizure Types

I liked this treatment, but it's hard to say how much of the positive effects were due to Banzel and how much were due to the VNS device I got around the same time.

2.3

Patient Review

9/23/2009

Banzel for Epilepsy of the Lennox Gastaut Syndrome

I started this medication six months ago at a low dose which I increased pretty rapidly over the next six weeks. At the same time, I was also decreasing another seizure medication. However, before I could get to the recommended dosage, I started gagging and trying to vomit.

1

Patient Review

7/20/2009

Banzel for Petit Mal Epilepsy with Multiple Seizure Types

Unfortunately, this new medication has caused my son to have more seizures.
image of drug pills surrounding a glass of water symbolizing drug consumption

Patient Q&A Section about banzel

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.

What is the generic for BANZEL?

"The generic version of Rufinamide (Banzel) is available and may be cheaper compared to the brand version."

Answered by AI

Can you overdose on BANZEL?

"If you take too much Banzel, you may have an overdose. Overdose symptoms may include confusion, drowsiness, and seizures. If you think you may have overdosed on Banzel, call your doctor or poison control center right away."

Answered by AI

What is BANZEL used for?

"Banzel is a prescription medication approved for treating seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome in patients aged one year and older."

Answered by AI

What is BANZEL made of?

"Banzel contains rufinamide, an active drug that belongs to a class of medications called antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). A class of medications is a group of drugs that work in the same way. Banzel is available as 200-milligram (mg) and 400-mg tablets."

Answered by AI

Clinical Trials for Banzel

Image of The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada.

Epidiolex for Epilepsy

2 - 18
All Sexes
Toronto, Canada

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn the best way to switch children with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) or Dravet Syndrome (DS) taking 'artisanal' (non pharmaceutical-grade) cannabidiol (CBD) to Epidiolex for treatment of seizures. The main questions it aims to answer are: * How well does a gradual switch from 'artisanal' CBD to Epidiolex work? * Does the same dose of Epidiolex as 'artisanal' CBD work best? * What side-effects or medical problems do participants have when switching from 'artisanal' CBD to Epidiolex? Researchers will examine how successful switching from 'artisanal' CBD to Epidiolex is. Participants will: * Gradually increase their dose of Epidiolex and reduce their dose of 'artisanal' CBD until they are taking just Epidiolex * Visit the clinic five times over 20 weeks for checkups and tests * Keep a diary of their seizures, symptoms and the number of times they use a rescue seizure medication

Phase 4
Waitlist Available

The Hospital for Sick Children

Elizabeth Donner, MD

Jazz Pharmaceuticals

Image of Boston Childrens' Hospital in Boston, United States.

Transdermal CBD for Epilepsy

2 - 55
All Sexes
Boston, MA

This study is a preliminary open-label, single-arm Phase II investigation into the safety and efficacy of transdermal cannabidiol (CBD) delivered using GT4 skin bream technology in individuals diagnosed with Dravet and/or Lennox-Gastatu syndrome (DS and/or LGS). We aim to enroll 25 participants between the ages of 2 and 55 diagnosed with DS and/or LGS. Transdermal delivery of cannabinoids may provide advantages over other traditional routes of administration. Noted advantages include avoidance of first pass metabolism which mitigates potentially dangerous drug-drug interactions due to delayed cannabinoid accumulation, and more stable and constant plasma cannabinoid concentrations. GT4 technology, uses emulsion technology containing penetrating agents, basement membrane disruptors, and vasodilators to overcome hydrophilic and lipophilic structures to open channels and transport cannabinoids deep into the dermis layer of the skin. Once in the dermis, vasodilators dilate the capillary bed to increase fluid dynamic flow into and out of the application site, delivering cannabinoids into the blood stream. The primary objective is to investigate the safety and efficacy of CBD delivery with the A-Synaptic GT4 Transdermal Delivery System in individuals diagnosed with DS and/orLGS. Dr. Rotenberg will apply for and hold the expanded access IND for this study, as the sponsor is running this study as an investigator-initiated study. The study consists of 11 visits over \~160 days, dosing begins at Visit #2.

Phase 1 & 2
Waitlist Available

Boston Childrens' Hospital

Alexander Rotenberg, MD, PhD