Author: SC Schachter
Support information on page: Treatment > 9 steps of treament > 3 - Choosing medication
| Systemic side effects | Neurotoxic side effects | Rare, idiosyncratic reactions |
| nausea | altered sleep cycles | |
| rash | sedation | |
| | lethargy | |
| | behavioral changes | |
| | hyperactivity | |
| | ataxia | |
| | tolerance | |
| | dependence | |
| Systemic side effects | Neurotoxic side effects | Rare, idiosyncratic reactions |
| nausea | drowsiness | agranulocytosis |
| vomiting | dizziness | Stevens-Johnson syndrome |
| diarrhea | blurred or double vision | aplastic anemia |
| hyponatremia | lethargy | hepatic failure |
| fluid retention | headache | dermatitis, rash |
| rash, pruritus | | serum sickness |
| | | pancreatitis |
| Systemic side effects | Neurotoxic side effects | Rare, idiosyncratic reactions |
| nausea | sleep disturbance | |
| vomiting | drowsiness | |
| | hyperactivity | |
Felbamate is recommended for use only by patients who respond inadequately to alternative treatments and whose epilepsy is so severe that a substantial risk of aplastic anemia, liver failure, or both is deemed acceptable in light of the benefits of its use.
| Systemic side effects | Neurotoxic side effects | Rare, idiosyncratic reactions |
| nausea | insomnia | aplastic anemia |
| vomiting | dizziness | liver failure |
| anorexia | headache | |
| weight loss | ataxia | |
| Systemic side effects | Neurotoxic side effects | Rare, idiosyncratic reactions |
| none known | somnolence | unknown |
| | dizziness | |
| | ataxia | |
| Systemic side effects | Neurotoxic side effects | Rare, idiosyncratic reactions |
| rash | dizziness | Stevens-Johnson syndrome |
| nausea | somnolence | hypersensitivity syndrome |
| Systemic side effects | Neurotoxic side effects | Rare, idiosyncratic reactions |
| gingival hypertrophy | confusion | rash |
| hirsutism | slurred speech | lymphadenopathy |
| rash | double vision | |
| lymphadenopathy | ataxia | |
| osteomalacia (with long-term use) | neuropathy (with long-term use) | |
| Systemic side effects | Neurotoxic side effects | Rare, idiosyncratic reactions |
| weight gain | tremor | pancreatitis |
| nausea, vomiting | tiredness | thrombocytopenia |
| hair loss | | impaired platelet function |
| With long-term use: bone loss, menstrual irregularity, PCOS | | liver failure (especially in children <2 yr) |
Adapted from: Schachter SC. Treatment of seizures. In: Schachter SC, Schomer DL, eds. The comprehensive evaluation and treatment of epilepsy. San Diego, CA: Academic Press; 1997. p. 61-74.
With permission from Elsevier (www.elsevier.com).
Reviewed and revised December 2003 by Steven C. Schachter, MD, Harvard Medical School
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