Ezogabine (Retigabine) and Its Role in the Treatment of Partial-Onset Seizures: A Review

Ezogabine is a newly approved anticonvulsant for adjunctive therapy in partial-onset seizures in adults with a novel mechanism of action, activating low-threshold voltage-gated potassium channels. It has advantages over many of the available anticonvulsants in that it is not metabolized through the cytochrome P450 system and is not highly protein bound, therefore limiting its potential for drug-drug interactions. Unique to ezogabine compared with other anticonvulsants is its association with urinary retention due to its effect on potassium channels in the urothelium of the bladder.