Details

Vigabatrin is an anti-epileptic medicine, also called an anticonvulsant. Vigabatrin is used in combination with other medications to treat complex partial seizures in adults and children who are at least 10 years old. The powder form of vigabatrin is used to treat infantile spasms in babies and children between the ages of 1 month and 2 years. Anyone taking vigabatrin can develop vision problems that could get worse, even after you stop using this medicine. The more you take vigabatrin, the more likely you are to develop severe vision problems. To make sure vigabatrin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have vision problems kidney disease anaemia (low red blood cells) or a history of depression, mood disorder, mental illness, or suicidal thoughts or actions.

Typical Uses

Vigabatrin is used in combination with other medications to treat seizure disorders (epilepsy). Vigabatrin decreases the number of seizures in adults and children who have not been able to control their seizures with other treatment. Vigabatrin is an anticonvulsant. It is thought to work by stopping the breakdown of a natural calming substance (GABA) in the brain.

Side Effects

Common vigabatrin side effects may include any change in your vision, no matter how mild back and forth eye movements you cannot control severe drowsiness, fussiness, or feeding problems (in a baby taking vigabatrin) numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands or feet weight gain with or without swelling signs of an ear infection-fever, ear pain or full feeling, trouble hearing, drainage from the ear, fussiness in a child or low red blood cells (anaemia)-pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating. Taking vigabatrin can cause permanent vision loss.

Drug Interactions

• Vigabatrin+amiodarone- Talk to your doctor before using vigabatrin together with amiodarone. Combining these medications, especially for prolonged periods, may increase the risk of serious side effects associated with vision loss. Routine vision testing is required during treatment with vigabatrin.
• Vigabatrin+buprenorphine- Using buprenorphine together with other medications that cause central nervous system depression such as vigabatrin can lead to serious side effects such as respiratory distress, coma, or even death. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications. Do not drink alcohol or self-medicate with these medications without your doctor's approval, and do not exceed the doses or frequency and duration of use prescribed by your doctor.
• Vigabatrin+deferoxamine- Talk to your doctor before using vigabatrin together with deferoxamine. Combining these medications, especially for prolonged periods, may increase the risk of serious side effects associated with vision loss. Routine vision testing is required during treatment with vigabatrin.
• Vigabatrin+prednisone- Talk to your doctor before using vigabatrin together with prednisone. Combining these medications, especially for prolonged periods, may increase the risk of serious side effects associated with vision loss. Routine vision testing is required during treatment with vigabatrin.

Mechanism of action

Vigabatrin increases brain concentrations of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS, by irreversibly inhibiting enzymes that catabolise GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid transaminase, GABA-T). Duration of action is determined by rate of GABA-T re-synthesis. Vigabatrin may also work by suppressing repetitive neuronal firing through inhibition of voltage-sensitive sodium channels. Although administered as a racemic mixture, only the S (+) enantiomer is pharmacologically active.

Pregnancy Category : C