Intravenous carbamazepine for the treatment of epilepsy

INTRODUCTION: Recently, an intravenous formulation of carbamazepine (CBZ) (sulphobutylether-7-beta-cyclodextrine carbamazepine, SBECD CBZ) has been developed and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It is indicated as a short-term replacement therapy for oral CBZ formulations, when oral administration is temporarily not feasible and in adults with focal seizures with complex symptomatology as well as generalized tonic-clonic seizures and mixed seizure patterns. Areas covered: This review focuses on the drug development, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of intravenous CBZ and provides a comprehensive overview of the studies assessing its clinical efficacy, tolerability and safety in adults with epilepsy. Expert opinion: Intravenous CBZ has favorable pharmacokinetics and is well tolerated and safe when used as a short-term substitution for oral CBZ. Seizure control was unchanged after switching from oral to IV formulations. Overall, this new formulation represents a useful option to enhance continuity of care in adults with focal or generalized tonic-clonic seizures when oral CBZ administration is temporarily unfeasible. Further studies are needed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of IV CBZ used at larger doses (above 1600 mg/day), for a period longer than 7 days or for other indications not approved by FDA, such as prolonged convulsive seizures and status epilepticus.