Treatment of epilepsy with perampanel: conversion from add-on therapy to monotherapy

Abstract

Introduction. Perampanel (PER) is an antiepileptic drug approved in Europe as add-on therapy for patients with focal onset seizures (with or without secondary generalisation) from the age of 4 years, and for primary generalised tonic-clonic seizures from 7 years of age. Objective. Review current evidence on treatment with PER monotherapy after conversion from adjunctive therapy. Development. Two retrospective multicentre studies in which PER was used as monotherapy show that low doses (6-8 mg/day) of PER were effective and well tolerated in a subgroup of patients with less severe epilepsies than patients who participated in clinical trials (where PER was used as add-on therapy). In these studies, the retention rate exceeded 90% at 3 months, and 70% at 6, and 12 months. The responder rate was > 75% at 3 months, and the rate of seizure-free patients exceeded 50% at 3 and 6 months, and 37% at 12 months. Compared to other observational studies and clinical trials where PER was used as add-on therapy, no adverse effects other than those already known were observed. Four other studies examining the effects of conversion to PER monotherapy in a small number of patients support these results. Conclusions. In routine clinical practice, conversion to PER monotherapy, at relatively low doses, is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for patients with focal and generalised tonic-clonic seizures.