A study assessing the effectiveness of the antiepileptic drug tiagabine has concluded that it is a “useful” treatment for both adults and children with epilepsy. Tiagabine is a drug that works by increasing the brain’s levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which aids in stabilizing the brain’s electrical activity and reducing seizures.

For this study, the researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle attempted to figure out how tiagabine affects seizure control when used regularly. For the study, researchers analyzed data collected from 292 patients participating patients who suffered from epileptic seizures, generalized onset seizures, focal onset seizures and those with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Of those participants, 39 were children who were given tiagabine at a dose of 28 mg daily. Adverse side effects from the tiagabine were also recorded. Examination of the data showed that when taking tiagabine, the most common adverse effects included “fatigue, dizziness, psychomotor slowing, ataxia (loss of coordination), stomach upsets, weight change, insomnia and behavioral changes.” Some of the patients developed epilepticus, and one of them suffered from an unexplained death. As for the seizures, the study revealed that 5 percent of the patients stopped having seizures, 12 percent experienced a 75 percent reduction of seizures and 23 percent experienced a 50 percent reduction in seizures.

The results of this study were published in the journal Epilepsy & Behavior.

“Behavioral adverse events occurred in a larger proportion of patients compared to those reported in tiagabine pre-approval randomized controlled trials,” the study’s authors note. “A moderate percentage of patients had a meaningful reduction in seizure frequency.”

The authors concluded that “in clinical practice, tiagabine remains a useful antiepileptic drug.”

Anti-seizure medications are often given to kids and adults with epilepsy. One of those medications is Topamax. Topamax has been linked to an increased risk of suicide and suicidal thoughts as well as birth defects in women whose babies are exposed to the drug in-utero. Some of those birth defects linked to Topamax use during pregnancy include cleft lips, cleft palates, genital defects and other birth malformations.

If your baby was born with birth defects after in-utero exposure to Topamax, contact attorney Greg Jones today for a free consultation. I am experienced at fighting Topamax lawsuits and may be able to help you recover money for your child’s injuries.