DANGEROUS SIDE-EFFECTS OF EPILEPSY DRUGS REDUCED IN NEW RESEARCH- BY Dr. Sushant Kumar Shrivastava, Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering
Chronicle Editor @ Sep 28, 2008
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(Dr. S. K. Shrivastava is a Reader in Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering. His research team has done break-through research in developing valproic acid combination medicine for treatment of epilepsy. This pioneer research work was released at British Pharmaceutical Conference held at Manchester, UK, during September 7-9, 2008.)
(Dr. S. K. Shrivastava)
LONDON, September 8 /PRNewswire/ --
A breakthrough method has been found to reduce the dangerous side-effects of a medicine that successfully tackles epilepsy, according to research released at the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester.
Epilepsy is an incurable condition which causes people to suffer repeated seizures caused by a burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. It affects about one in 30 people in the UK.(1)
Anti-epileptic medicines such as valproic acid help stabilise the electrical activity in the brain and prevent seizures in most epilepsy patients. Its use is restricted due to rare, but potentially life-threatening side effects, such as toxic liver damage, stomach ulcers and serious inflammation of the pancreas.
Pharmacy researchers combined amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) with the valproic acid, and this combination medicine significantly reduced the likelihood of valproic acid causing liver damage or ulcers. Amino acids are found in normal foods, and have a healing effect on gastric irritation.
The research team is also investigating whether the valproic acid combination medicine has any potential as an anti-cancer therapy.
Lead pharmacy researcher, Dr Sushant Kumar Shivastava, Department of Pharmaceutics, Banaras Hindu University, India, said: "Valproic acid is powerfully effective against different kinds of epilepsy and we are confident this research breakthrough represents a major future improvement for patients with epilepsy."
Notes to editors
The British Pharmaceutical Conference 2008 (BPC)
BPC 2008: Pharmacy in the 21st Century: Adding years to life and life to years. In 2008, as the NHS marks its 60th anniversary year, BPC will examine how pharmacy and the pharmaceutical services are helping to add years to life and life to the year of the UK population. The profession of pharmacy plays an important role in meeting the healthcare challenges associated with the UK's ageing population.
How can pharmacists contribute to caring for the population as well as ensuring quality of life? Increasingly, scientists and practitioners have to consider the cost implications of this conundrum, and the evidence base for all interventions is becoming of paramount importance: BPC 2008 will debate these issues and open up discussion on them. Visit: http://www.bpc2008.org/
Research released at BPC is published in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology (JPP).
Reference
1. Epilepsy: A General Introduction. Information leaflet. http://www.patient.co.uk Accessed 9 August 2008.
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Study makes epilepsy medicine safer
Tuesday 9th September 2008
The dangerous side-effects of a drug used to control epilepsy could be reduced with the use of a new treatment.
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder that is characterised by recurrent unprovoked seizures. These seizures are caused by a burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. It is incurable and affects about one in 30 people in the UK.
Medicines such as valproic acid can stabilise the electrical activity in the brain and prevent seizures in many epilepsy patients. But it has been found to cause toxic liver damage, stomach ulcers and serious inflammation of the pancreas. This means its use is often limited to extreme cases.
Researchers from Banaras Hindu University, in India, have now combined amino acids with valproic acid. In this form the risk of the valproic acid causing liver damage or ulcers is greatly reduced, the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester heard.
Lead pharmacy researcher, Dr Sushant Kumar Shivastava, said: "Valproic acid is powerfully effective against different kinds of epilepsy and we are confident this research breakthrough represents a major future improvement for patients with epilepsy."
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder that is characterised by recurrent unprovoked seizures. These seizures are caused by a burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. It is incurable and affects about one in 30 people in the UK.
Medicines such as valproic acid can stabilise the electrical activity in the brain and prevent seizures in many epilepsy patients. But it has been found to cause toxic liver damage, stomach ulcers and serious inflammation of the pancreas. This means its use is often limited to extreme cases.
Researchers from Banaras Hindu University, in India, have now combined amino acids with valproic acid. In this form the risk of the valproic acid causing liver damage or ulcers is greatly reduced, the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester heard.
Lead pharmacy researcher, Dr Sushant Kumar Shivastava, said: "Valproic acid is powerfully effective against different kinds of epilepsy and we are confident this research breakthrough represents a major future improvement for patients with epilepsy."
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Dr. S. K. Shrivastava can be contacted at: sushant@bhu.ac.in or sushant_bhu@rediffmail.com
His info can be viewed on http://www.itbhu.ac.in/phe/faculty.shtml
Website of Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering: http://www.itbhu.ac.in/phe/default.shtml
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Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University
Varanasi 221005, UP