Epileptic Disorders
MENUEslicarbazepine for focal epilepsy and acute intermittent porphyria Volume 22, issue 3, June 2020
TEST YOURSELF
(1) What AEDs are considered to be relatively safe in patients with acute intermittent porphyria?
(2) Why might eslicarbazepine be safer than carbamazepine for patients with co-morbid hepatic porphyria?
Answers
(1) Levetiracetam, pregabalin, benzodiazepines are considered to be safe in patients with this condition. Phenobarbital, phenytoin, and carbamazepine are strongly porphyrogenic. Tiagabine, lamotrigine, and sodium valproate have also been reported as potentially porphyrogenic.
(2) Eslicarbazepine belongs to the same chemical family as carbamazepine but is a weaker enzyme inducer, which should theoretically reduce its porphyrogenic propensity.