Kathryn Davis, MD, MSTR

“We’re hoping to look at longer-term follow-up in those patients and then publish that study. I really think it’s of interest because outside of academic epilepsy centers, I don’t think clobazam is being used as broadly.”

Clobazam (Onfi, Lundbeck) has been approved for the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) since 2011, though epileptologists have used the long-acting benzodiazepine off-label for some time for a variety of epilepsies. Despite this use, little research has delved into the efficacy and tolerability of clobazam in adults with drug-refractory epilepsy.

To find out more, Kathryn Davis, MD, MSTR, associate professor of neurology, and medical director, epilepsy monitoring unit and Penn epilepsy surgical program, University of Pennsylvania, and colleagues conducted a single-center retrospective chart review at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Of the 417 patients treated with clobazam between 2010 and 2017, post-intervention, 50.3% experienced a >50% reduction in seizure frequency and 19.9% achieved seizure freedom, with no statistically significant difference between epilepsy types.

2019 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting

, May 4-10, in Philadelphia, to hear Davis share her thoughts on the results and what they mean for clinical practice, as well as what still needs to be done in the research.

Levinson N, Jami A, Kjankjanian P, Hill C, Davis K. Efficacy and Tolerability of Clobazam in Adult Drug-Refractory Epilepsy. Presented at: AAN Annual Meeting; May 5-9, 2019; Philadelphia, PA. P1.5-035.

Videos

The associate professor of neurology and medical director of the epilepsy monitoring unit and Penn epilepsy surgical program at the University of Pennsylvania discussed the findings of a single-center review of off-label clobazam use for patients with drug-refractory epilepsy.

Kathryn Davis, MD, MSTR: Off-Label Clobazam Use in Refractory Epilepsy

"A vast majority of women with epilepsy are living with epilepsy during their childbearing years. That’s the most critical piece that I’m thinking about when I see even a very young woman with epilepsy who’s not thinking about having children for years. You want to make sure you’re thinking about seizure medication choices."

While addressing the concerns of women with epilepsy who plan to get pregnant has become a manageable process—according to 

, chief, neurology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, proper planning and preparation between the patient and the physician can ensure success—it is still a serious time. The selection process for the proper antiepileptic drug during this period is critical.

In fact, Kathryn Davis, MD, MSTER, noted that the possibility of pregnancy should be on the clinician’s mind for quite some time. She told 

, May 4-10, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that she believes in being conscious of treatments for those patients who will be going through their childbearing years with epilepsy—as women make up roughly half of those with epilepsy.

The associate professor of neurology and medical director of the epilepsy monitoring unit and Penn epilepsy surgical program at the University of Pennsylvania shared insight into the prioritization of women with epilepsy who may intend to get pregnant. Davis noted that ensuring that her patients can and will be able to go through a safe pregnancy is a number 1 priority.

The associate professor of neurology and medical director of the epilepsy monitoring unit and Penn epilepsy surgical program at the University of Pennsylvania shared insight into the prioritization of women with epilepsy who may intend to get pregnant.

Kathryn Davis, MD, MSTR

Articles

Kathryn Davis, MD, MSTR: Off-Label Clobazam Use in Refractory Epilepsy

Kathryn Davis, MD, MSTR: Treatment Considerations for Women With Epilepsy