Seizure freedom and reducing the risk of sudden unexpected death in patients with focal epilepsy treated with cenobamate or other antiseizure medications

People with epilepsy who have uncontrolled seizures are at increased risk of all-cause mortality, injuries, comorbidities, mood and psychosocial disorders, and diminished quality of life. For those with focal epilepsy, focal to bilateral tonic–clonic seizures (FBTCS) pose the greatest risk for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), a leading cause of premature mortality in people with epilepsy. Cenobamate is a third-generation antiseizure medication with demonstrated efficacy in controlling focal seizures, including FBTCS, in people with drug-resistant epilepsy. Treatment with cenobamate in clinical trials was associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality to a rate statistically indistinguishable from that seen in the general population, and SUDEP rates were lower than expected. As FBTCS are associated with the highest risk of death, prevention of this seizure type is especially important, and physicians should continue to try new therapies to prevent these seizures. A shared decision-making model should be used when interacting with patients and their care providers to achieve and maintain seizure control and maximize treatment outcomes.