Rufinamide Uses: An Overview
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is a severe form of
epilepsy. Epilepsy is a brain condition that occurs when there are sudden, brief changes in how the brain's electrical system works. This change in brain activity can lead to a seizure
(see Epilepsy Symptoms). Depending on which part of the brain is involved, a seizure may affect the person's consciousness, body movements, emotions, or senses (taste, touch, smell, vision, or hearing).
Lennox-Gastaut syndrome usually begins early in children, typically before four years of age. This type of epilepsy is often accompanied by developmental delays and other problems. The seizures can be particularly difficult to treat, and many people need to be on several medications.
Rufinamide is approved for use along with other seizure medications to treat Lennox-Gastaut syndrome seizures, and is approved for use in adults and children as young as four years old. As is typical with new seizure medications, rufinamide is not approved to be used alone, as it has not been adequately studied for such use. In studies, people were given either rufinamide or a placebo (a "sugar pill" that does not contain any active ingredients) in addition to their usual seizure medications, because it would be unethical to give a person with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome just a placebo (without the other medications).
