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U.S. Panel Rejects Strong Epilepsy Drug Warning
submitted by bugu 4 months, 10 days ago

reutershealth.com — Anti-seizure drugs for treating epilepsy carry an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior, but not enough to warrant a black box warning, a U.S. advisory panel concluded on Thursday. Members of the Food and Drug Administration's panel of outside experts rejected the agency's proposed caution, expressing concern that a strong warning could scare epilepsy patients from being treated with effective drugs. "We need to be very careful about scaring the patients into not taking their drugs," said panelist Rochelle Caplan, a professor of psychiatry at the University of California in Los Angeles. The FDA, which sought the panel's advice, will make the final decision. The agency usually follows the advice of its advisory panels, but could still implement the boxed warning. read more...

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Genetic cause for type of childhood epilepsy identified
submitted by matpao 5 months, 16 days ago

nlm.nih.gov — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Scientists have identified the mutated gene responsible for development of a type of epilepsy called childhood absence epilepsy, or CAE. The condition is associated with frequent "absent" seizures where the patient's consciousness is impaired leaving the child staring blankly ahead not aware or responsive for up to 10 seconds at a time. An inherited disorder, CAE accounts for 10 to 12 percent of epilepsy in children under age 16. CAE often disappears in adulthood. The scientists studied the DNA of 48 patients with CAE and discovered that 4 patients had a genetic mutation occurring in the GABA receptor, which binds to a neurotransmitter of the brain called GABA that inhibits the excitation of nerve cells. When this regulation is lost or reduced, seizures develop. read more...

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