Eslicarbazepine Acetate and Ibutilide Fumarate

• Generic Name: eslicarbazepine
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Aptiom

Management (in combination with other anticonvulsants) of partial-onset seizures in adults.

In longer-term extension studies, reductions in seizure frequency were maintained for at least 1 year.

Controlled comparative trials between eslicarbazepine acetate and oxcarbazepine needed to fully evaluate the relative efficacy and tolerability of these structurally related anticonvulsants (see Actions).

Once-daily dosage regimen may help improve patient compliance.

• Generic Name: ibutilide
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Corvert

Used for rapid conversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation or flutter to sinus rhythm.

Considered a drug of choice for pharmacologic cardioversion of atrial fibrillation or flutter.

Some experts state that ibutilide also may be used in hemodynamically stable patients with preexcited atrial fibrillation and rapid ventricular response (e.g., Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome).

Also may be used in selected patients with focal atrial tachycardia.

Atrial arrhythmias that are not of recent onset are less likely to respond to the drug. Efficacy not determined in atrial arrhythmias of >90 days’ duration.