Have Epilepsy, Given Felbatol But It Has Side Effects Of Aplastic Anemia. Suggest?

Posted on Thu, 26 Sep 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 Answered on

Sat, 19 Oct 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : Am concerned about a friend with epilepsy who has been advised of the drug felbatol, but it has some side effects of importance, such as aplastic anemia. She has been treated for years with poor results concerning seizures. Your comments please.

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Hello

Detailed Answer:
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Felbatol or Felbamate is a good anti-epileptic drug. It is a drug reserved mainly for epilepsy not responding to other drug treatment and in epilepsy associated with XXXXXXX Gastaut Syndrome.

It is a very good drug with very good efficacy in controlling epilepsy. It is known to cause Aplastic anaemia. The risk in about 3-5 in a million persons. Although the actual risk is a little more than the datas.

The risk is more in persons with prior history of low blood count or pan-cytopenia. As you have mentioned that she has been treated with multiple drugs with poor results so it is better to start with this drug concerning her clinical history. Get her blood counts done prior to start of treatment and then if possible at regular interval, once per week for first 12 weeks then every 2nd week for next 12 weeks and then at monthly interval. Maintain her proper nutritional status and she will improve.

Hope this helps you, if you have more questions you can ask again.

Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar