Rufinamide
Generic name: rufinamide
Brand name: Banzel
Dosage form: oral tablet, oral suspension
Drug class:Dibenzazepine anticonvulsants
What is rufinamide?
Rufinamide is an anticonvulsant medication which is used as an add-on treatment alongside other antiepileptic medications to treat seizures in people with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome is a rare and severe form of epilepsy that begins early in life.
Rufinamide is a type of drug called a triazole derivative. It is different to other antiepileptic drugs. It is not known exactly how rifinamide works to prevent seizures, but it is thought that it affects sodium channels in the brain that play a role in causing seizures.
Rufinamide was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2008.
What is rufinamide used for?
Rufinamide is a prescription medicine used with other medicines to treat seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) in adults and pediatric patients 1 year of age and older.
It is not known if rufinamide is safe and effective in the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome in pediatric patients under 1 year of age.
Important information
Do not stop taking rufinamide without first talking to your healthcare provider.
Stopping rufinamide suddenly can cause serious problems.
Rufinamide can cause serious side effects, including:
1. Like other antiepileptic drugs, rufinamide may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500.
Call a healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:
- thoughts about suicide or dying
- attempt to commit suicide
- new or worse depression
- new or worse anxiety
- feeling agitated or restless
- panic attacks
- trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- new or worse irritability
- acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
- acting on dangerous impulses
- an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
- other unusual changes in behavior or mood
- Suicidal thoughts or actions can be caused by things other than medicines. If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, your healthcare provider may check for other causes.
How can I watch for early symptoms of suicidal thoughts and actions?
- Pay attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.
- Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled.
Call your healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you are worried about symptoms.
Do not stop rufinamide without first talking to a healthcare provider.
- Stopping rufinamide suddenly can cause serious problems. Stopping a seizure medicine suddenly in a patient who has epilepsy can cause seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus).
2. Rufinamide may cause you to feel sleepy, tired, weak, dizzy, or have problems with coordination and walking.
