Alternative anticonvulsants in neonatology

Abstract

The approaches to pharmacotherapy of neonatal seizures are always empirical and vary across the globe. There is still no consensus on this issue because of the highly variable efficacy of anticonvulsants traditionally used in newborns. Currently, none of these drugs has sufficient evidence to make an unambiguous conclusion on their efficacy and safety. Therefore, the search for new anticonvulsants for newborns is highly relevant. This review aims to summarize existing literature surrounding anticonvulsants that can potentially be used in newborns. It discusses advantages and disadvantages, as well as their utility in neonatal care. It also summarizes the latest information on neonatal seizures and outlines future directions of research to create new therapeutic strategies for neonatal seizures. Key words: anticonvulsant, treatment, neonatal seizures, newborns, anticonvulsant therapy, anticonvulsants, seizures