Inovelon^®

Rufinamide
Click here for the Inovelon Medicines Guide

Background

Inovelon^® (rufinamide) is an antiepileptic medicine and is used to treat seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) in patients aged four years and above.

Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome

Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome is a severe form of generalized epilepsy which develops in early childhood. Symptoms of LGS include a variety of seizure types, with tonic-atonic seizures being the most common. Atonic seizures (rapid loss of muscle tone and consciousness), and tonic seizures (where muscles contract continuously typically producing a stiffening of the legs and arms) lead to the sudden falls seen in LGS patients known as 'drop attacks'. Absence seizures (staring spells) and myoclonic seizures (sudden muscle jerks) are also commonly observed. All children with LGS will experience varying degrees of developmental delay and behavioural problems.

An estimated 11,000 people in Western Europe (Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Spain, Sweden and UK) are said to be affected by LGS. Complete recovery, including freedom from seizures or normal development, is very unusual. Surgical treatment may be employed, in cases where the symptoms are too difficult to manage with pharmacotherapy

Clinical Action

Brain cells need to fire at a certain rate to function normally. During a seizure, brain cells fire more rapidly than normal. Rufinamide inhibits brain cells from firing at this increased rate.

Further Information

The Summary of Product Characteristics and the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL), can be found at www.emc.medicines.org.uk

If you are not a healthcare professional and have any questions or concerns, please consult your healthcare professional directly

Adverse Events

All medicines may have side-effects. Please consult the patient information leaflet for a full list of side effects associated with the use of Inovelon - see link above.