Vigabatrin is an irreversible inhibitor of gamma-aminobutyric acid transaminase (GABA-T), the enzyme responsible for the catabolism of GABA, which increases the level of GABA in the synapses.

Vigabatrin is a racemic compound, and its -enantiomer is pharmacologically active.^,

Pharmacokinetics

With most drugs, elimination half-life is a useful predictor of dosing schedules and the time needed to reach steady state concentrations. In the case of vigabatrin, however, it has been found that the half-life of biologic activity is far longer than the elimination half-life.

For vigabatrin, there is no range of target concentrations because researchers found no difference between the serum concentration levels of responders and those of non-responders. Instead, the duration of action is believed to be more a function of the GABA-T resynthesis rate; levels of GABA-T do not usually return to their normal state until six days after stopping the medication.

Uses

Approved/clinically proven

Canada

In Canada, vigabatrin is approved for use as an adjunctive treatment (with other drugs) in treatment resistant epilepsy,complex partial seizures, secondary generalized seizures, and for monotherapy use in infantile spasms in West syndrome.

Mexico

As of 2003, vigabatrin is approved in Mexico for the treatment of epilepsy that is not satisfactorily controlled by conventional therapy (adjunctive or monotherapy) or in recently diagnosed patients who have not tried other agents (monotherapy).

Vigabatrin is also indicated for monotherapy use in secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures, partial seizures, and in infantile spasms due to West syndrome.

Unapproved/Investigational

In November of 2001, a team of scientists lead by Peter Zwanzger of the University of Munich reported that vigabatrin reduced cholecystokinin tetrapeptide-induced symptoms of panic disorder, in addition to elevated cortisol and ACTH levels, in healthy volunteers.

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		Vigabatrin. : An article from: Pediatric Nursing $5.95


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	Guideline for prescribing vigabatrin in children has been revised - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included - Letter to the Editor EDITOR--In 1998 a paediatric advisory group in the United Kingdom produced a guideline to help clinicians when prescribing vigabatrin in children.[1] ... From British Medical Journal, 5/20/00

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	Management of patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy: a systematic literature review See page 886 for definitions of evidence labels. As part of a multiphase project under contract with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality ... From American Family Physician, 9/1/04 by Susan Ross

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