Vigabatrin
Seizures, Focal, Spasms, Infantile, Therapeutic procedure
Treatment
3 Active Studies for Vigabatrin
Treatment for
Seizures, Focal
What is Vigabatrin
Vigabatrin
The Generic name of this drug
Treatment Summary
Vigabatrin is a drug used to treat seizures and spasms in infants that don't respond to other treatments. It works by increasing the amount of the neurotransmitter GABA, which helps reduce the intensity of seizures. Vigabatrin was first used in the UK in 1989, but was found to cause vision loss in 1997. Its use is now limited to those with treatment-resistant seizures and is monitored closely for any further side effects. The US FDA approved its use in 2009 with a mandatory registry to track patients taking the drug.
Sabril
is the brand name
Vigabatrin Overview & Background
Brand Name
Generic Name
First FDA Approval
How many FDA approvals?
Sabril
Vigabatrin
2009
31
Effectiveness
How Vigabatrin Affects Patients
Vigabatrin is a medication used to help control seizures. It works by blocking the enzyme that breaks down the brain chemical GABA, which helps regulate nerve activity. Vigabatrin is a long-lasting drug since it keeps blocking this enzyme until new enzyme is made in its place.
How Vigabatrin works in the body
Vigabatrin helps control epilepsy by increasing the amount of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps control nerve activity. Vigabatrin increases GABA levels by blocking the enzymes that break it down.
When to interrupt dosage
The suggested measure of Vigabatrin is contingent upon the identified condition, including Infantile Spasms (IS), Therapeutic procedure and Seizures, Focal. The amount additionally fluctuates as per the method of delivery delineated in the table below.
Condition
Dosage
Administration
Spasms, Infantile
, 500.0 mg, 3000.0 mg, 2000.0 mg, 1000.0 mg, 50.0 mg/mL, 500.0 mg/mL, 100.0 mg
, Oral, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Powder, Powder - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Powder, for solution, Powder, for solution - Oral, Tablet, film coated, For solution - Oral, For solution
Seizures, Focal
, 500.0 mg, 3000.0 mg, 2000.0 mg, 1000.0 mg, 50.0 mg/mL, 500.0 mg/mL, 100.0 mg
, Oral, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Powder, Powder - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Powder, for solution, Powder, for solution - Oral, Tablet, film coated, For solution - Oral, For solution
Therapeutic procedure
, 500.0 mg, 3000.0 mg, 2000.0 mg, 1000.0 mg, 50.0 mg/mL, 500.0 mg/mL, 100.0 mg
, Oral, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Powder, Powder - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Powder, for solution, Powder, for solution - Oral, Tablet, film coated, For solution - Oral, For solution
Warnings
There are 20 known major drug interactions with Vigabatrin.
Common Vigabatrin Drug Interactions
Drug Name
Risk Level
Description
Azelastine
Major
Vigabatrin may increase the central nervous system depressant (CNS depressant) activities of Azelastine.
Ethanol
Major
Vigabatrin may increase the central nervous system depressant (CNS depressant) activities of Ethanol.
Oliceridine
Major
The risk or severity of hypotension, sedation, death, somnolence, and respiratory depression can be increased when Vigabatrin is combined with Oliceridine.
Thalidomide
Major
Vigabatrin may increase the central nervous system depressant (CNS depressant) activities of Thalidomide.
Clonazepam
Minor
The serum concentration of Clonazepam can be increased when it is combined with Vigabatrin.
Vigabatrin Toxicity & Overdose Risk
The lowest toxic dose of vigabatrin in mice and rats is 2830mg/kg and 3100mg/kg respectively. Symptoms of overdose usually involve extreme drowsiness, unconsciousness, seizures, speech disorder, headache, psychosis, agitation, abnormal behavior, and confusion. Treatment for overdose usually requires supportive care and can include gastric lavage or hemodialysis. Activated charcoal does not help absorb vigabatrin and hemodialysis may reduce vigabatrin levels by 40-60%, although it is not clear how effective it is.
Vigabatrin Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Vigabatrin?
Currently, there are no active trials examining the potential of Vigabatrin to reduce Seizures, Focal, Infantile Spasms (IS) and other therapeutic procedures.
Condition
Clinical Trials
Trial Phases
Therapeutic procedure
0 Actively Recruiting
Seizures, Focal
0 Actively Recruiting
Spasms, Infantile
4 Actively Recruiting
Phase 2, Phase 3, Phase 1
Patient Q&A Section about vigabatrin
These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.
What vigabatrin is used for?
"Vigabatrin is a medication used to treat refractory complex partial seizures in adults and children 2 years of age and older, and infantile spasms in children. It is used in patients who have already tried other medications that did not work well. Vigabatrin is an anticonvulsant."
Answered by AI
What are the side effect of vigabatrin?
"The most common side effects of SABRIL for adults are: blurred vision, sleepiness, dizziness, problems walking or feeling uncoordinated, shaking (tremor), and tiredness. The most common side effect of SABRIL for children 3 to 16 years is weight gain."
Answered by AI
Is vigabatrin a GABA agonist?
"Vigabatrin is a drug that inhibits the GABA transaminase enzyme, which is responsible for breaking down the neurotransmitter GABA. This results in increased levels of GABA in the brain, which has a calming effect. Vigabatrin was discovered through a systematic search for ways to increase GABAergic inhibition, or the ability of GABA to inhibit nerve cells."
Answered by AI
What is the mechanism of action of vigabatrin?
"Vigabatrin was designed with a specific effect on brain chemistry in mind. Its purpose is to inhibit the GABA-degrading enzyme, which would in turn increase GABA concentrations in the brain. The increase in GABA would act as a brake against excitatory processes that could cause seizures."
Answered by AI