Cognitive effects of carisbamate in randomized, placebo-controlled, healthy-volunteer, multidose studies

Abstract Adverse cognitive effects are an important concern for drugs that influence the central nervous system. Carisbamate is a novel drug in development for treatment of seizures and neuropathic pain. Information on its cognitive effects is limited. Three controlled, multiple-dose, crossover studies with treatment durations of 5–9 days were designed to examine the cognitive effects of carisbamate on healthy volunteers. In one study, apparent dose-dependent effects on response, vigilance, and recognition speed were observed (1000 mg and 1500 mg/day). Carisbamate did not differ from placebo for most variables in the other two studies, but increased reaction time and reduced Sternberg memory were seen at higher dosages. Carisbamate did not produce clinically significant adverse effects on cognitive performance at doses < 1000 mg/day. Effects were mild to modest at the higher doses tested.