Vigabatrin

Vigabatrin 500 mg tablets should be given as twice daily oral administration with or without food. The therapy needs to be initiated at 1 gram per day (500 mg twice daily). Total daily dose can be increased in 500 mg increments at weekly intervals depending on response. The recommended dose of Vigabatrin in adults is 3 gram per day (1.5 gram twice daily). A 6 gram per day dose has not been shown to confer additional benefit compared to the 3 gram per day dose and is associated with an increased incidence of side effects.

The most commonly reported side effects due to Vigabatrin include: fatigue, somnolence, vision blurred, nystagmus, tremor, memory impairment, weight gain, arthralgia, abnormal coordination, and confusional state.

• Vigabatrin pills may be responsible for causing permanent vision loss. Check with your health specialist promptly in case blurred vision, difficulty in reading, or any other change in vision emerge during or after therapy.
• Monitoring of vision by an ophthalmic specialist with expertise in visual field interpretation and the ability to conduct dilated indirect ophthalmoscopy of the retina is needed, unless a patient is formally exempted from periodic ophthalmologic evaluation.
• For patients receiving vigabatrin tablets who are not exempted, vision evaluation is needed at baseline (no later than four weeks after starting vigabatrin) and at least every 3 months while on therapy and about 3 to 6 months after the discontinuation of therapy.
• Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including vigabatrin, increase the probability of suicidal thoughts or behavior. Patients treated with any antiepileptic drugs for any indication should be assessed for the occurence or worsening of suicidal thoughts or behavior, depression, or any unusual changes in mood or behavior.
• Vigabatrin causes fatigue and somnolence. The respective patients should not drive a car or operate other complex machinery until they are familiar with the effects of Vigabatrin on their ability in order to perform such activities.
• Do not stop pills of Vigabatrin without talking with your health specialist first. Stopping Vigabatrin all of sudden can cause severe problems. Stopping a seizure drug suddenly can cause seizures that will not stop in individuals who are being treated for seizures.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding should be avoided during treatment with Vigabatrin. You should inform your health specialist if you are pregnant or intend to get pregnant. You and your health specialist will have to decide if you should take Vigabatrin while you are pregnant. If you decide to breastfeed, monitor your baby for signs of poor sucking, vision loss, and sleepiness.

Store Vigabatrin 500 mg tablets at room temperature, between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C). Keep tablets in the container they come in. Keep it and all other medicines out of the reach of children.