*Result*: Adverse Effects of Cenobamate in Pediatric Epilepsy: Demographic Considerations.

Title:
Adverse Effects of Cenobamate in Pediatric Epilepsy: Demographic Considerations.
Authors:
Iwamoto BK; Division of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA., Whitaker AM; Division of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.; Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, USA., Agurs LD; Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, USA.; Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA., Hirtum-Das MMV; Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, USA.; Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA., Kahan MD; Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, USA.; Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA., Jordan B; Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, USA.; Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA., Mendoza L; Division of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.; Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, USA., Joshi SM; Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, USA.; Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA., Chiang JA; Division of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.; Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, USA.; Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Source:
Journal of child neurology [J Child Neurol] 2026 Mar; Vol. 41 (3), pp. 336-344. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Jul 29.
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: Sage Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 8606714 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1708-8283 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 08830738 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Child Neurol Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Publication: Thousand Oaks, CA : Sage
Original Publication: Littleton, MA : PSG Pub. Co., c1986-
MeSH Terms:
Anticonvulsants*/adverse effects , Anticonvulsants*/therapeutic use , Carbamates*/adverse effects , Carbamates*/therapeutic use , Drug Resistant Epilepsy*/drug therapy , Drug Resistant Epilepsy*/epidemiology, Epilepsy/drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Child ; Adolescent ; Child, Preschool ; Risk Factors ; Retrospective Studies ; Chlorophenols ; Tetrazoles
Contributed Indexing:
Keywords: antiseizure drugs; epilepsy; pediatric; risk factors
Substance Nomenclature:
0 (Anticonvulsants)
0 (Carbamates)
P85X70RZWS (Cenobamate)
0 (Chlorophenols)
0 (Tetrazoles)
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20250729 Date Completed: 20260204 Latest Revision: 20260204
Update Code:
20260204
DOI:
10.1177/08830738251357348
PMID:
40726314
Database:
MEDLINE

*Further Information*

*This study explores trends and potential risk factors among pediatric patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who were prescribed cenobamate by their epileptologist. Twenty-four patients (54.2% female) with drug-resistant (62.5% focal) epilepsy were administered cenobamate (mean = 13.27 years, standard deviation [SD] = 4.91 years) after failing multiple antiseizure medications (mean = 4.83, SD = 2.94). Fifty percent reported improved seizure frequency, although more than half the sample experienced physiological (n = 12, 50%) and/or psychiatric (n = 4, 16.7%) adverse events, with 39% rapidly discontinuing cenobamate (mean = 4.00 months, SD = 3.21) because of intolerable physiological (n = 4, 57.1%) and/or psychiatric adverse events (n = 3, 42.9%). Of those experiencing a psychiatric adverse event, all but 1 (75%) discontinued cenobamate, as compared to discontinuation by only 40% of those experiencing a physiological adverse event (n = 10). Psychiatric adverse events were significantly associated with sex (100% female), χ<sup>2</sup>(1, N = 24) = 4.06, P = .04. Preliminary analyses also suggest older age (adolescence) may increase risk for psychiatric adverse events of cenobamate among patients with pediatric epilepsy.*

*Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.*