Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology Online
In Collaboration With
Tiagabine
Therapeutics
Brands
• Gabitril
Generic?
Yes
Class
• Antiepileptic drug (AED)
Commonly Prescribed for
(FDA approved in bold)
• Partial seizures in adults and children age 12 or older
• Temporal lobe epilepsy (children and adults)
• Panic disorder
How the Drug Works
• Enhances activity of GABA by binding to sites associated with GABA uptake into presynaptic neurons, allowing more GABA to
be available to bind to receptors on postsynaptic cells
How Long Until It Works
• Seizures - should decrease by 2 weeks
If It Works
• Seizures - goal is the remission of seizures. Continue as long as effective and well-tolerated. Consider tapering and slowly
stopping after 2 years without seizures
If It Doesn't Work
• Increase to highest tolerated dose
• Epilepsy: consider changing to another agent, adding a second agent or referral for epilepsy surgery evaluation
Best Augmenting Combos for Partial Response or Treatment-Resistance
• Epilepsy: titration and combination regimen depends on whether the patient is on an enzyme-inducing drug or not
Tests
• No regular blood tests are recommended