Felbamate-Induced Headache

doi:10.1111/j.1528-1157.1996.tb00599.x

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Wiley InterScience

Epilepsia

Volume 37 Issue 5, Pages 503 - 505

Published Online: 3 Aug 2005

Published on behalf of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE)

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Felbamate-Induced Headache

Alan B. Ettinger ¹ , Lina Jandorf*, Ajay Berdia ¹ , Mary R. Andriola ¹ , Lauren B. Krupp, ¹ Deborah M. Weisbrot†

¹ Department of Neurology, The Epilepsy Management Program, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, U.S.A. *Department of Psychiatry, The Epilepsy Management Program, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, U.S.A. †Department of Psychiatry Private Practice, The Epilepsy Management Program, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, U.S.A.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. A. B. Ettinger at Epilepsy Management Program, Department of Neurology, Health Sciences Center T12-020, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8121, U.S.A.

Presented in part at the American Epilepsy Society Meeting, New Orleans, LA, December 1994.

KEYWORDS

Key Words: Felbamate • Headache • Anticonvulsants • Drug toxicity

ABSTRACT

We prospectively investigated drug-induced headaches (HA) among 60 epileptic patients receiving felbamate (FBM). Twenty patients (33%) experienced HA. HA was pounding in 11 (55%), steady in 9 (45%), moderate or severe in 19 (95%), occurred at least once a week in all patients, and was relieved by nonnarcotic analgesics in 14 (70%). Mean duration on FBM before HA onset was 19 days. HA occurred with higher FBM doses and was relieved in 8 of 13 patients (62%) with FBM dose reduction. FBM was discontinued in most cases because of risks of anemia or hepatitis; not because of HA. Other side effects included insomnia (25%), gastrointestinal symptoms (27%), and agitation or restlessness (23%). HA is a common dose-related complication of FBM, occurs early after initiation of FBM treatment, and is relieved by dose reduction.

Received August 3, 1995; revision accepted January 10, 1996.

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)

10.1111/j.1528-1157.1996.tb00599.x About DOI