Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the new AEDs: A review article

The new-AEDs, whose developments were motivated following the discovery of the valproate and its marketing in the U.S in 1978, have presented more therapeutic options. There are approximately twenty four FDA-approved antiepileptic drugs for use in patients with epilepsy, five of which were identified and have come on to the market between 2009 and 2012. The new-AEDs are of interest, not due to their efficacy, but rather owing to better tolerance, favorable pharmacokinetic profile, fewer interactions, and in some instances, lesser protein binding. No standard AED or those in developing have all properties of an ideal antiepileptic drug, thus to achieve desirable outcome, physicians should be aware of pharmacokinetics (PKs) and pharmacodynamics (PDs) of drugs. This review describes briefly the major features of the new AEDs.