Vigabatrin
About Vigabatrin
Vigabatrin is a specialised prescription medicine used to manage difficult-to-control seizures. Specifically, it is prescribed for infants with a severe type of childhood spasm (West syndrome) and for adults and children who experience complex partial seizures that have not responded well to other treatments. This medicine belongs to a class of drugs known as anticonvulsants, which help stabilise abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
For this medicine to work effectively, it must be taken consistently at the same times every day to keep a steady level in the body. You can take this medicine with or without food, but keeping your daily routine consistent is key. While taking this medication, incorporating healthy lifestyle habits such as maintaining a structured sleep schedule and keeping a calm environment can significantly support your overall seizure management plan.
While taking Vigabatrin, some patients may experience mild side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, or joint pain. However, this medicine carries a serious risk of causing permanent vision changes, specifically loss of peripheral or side vision. It is crucial to monitor your eyesight closely and contact your doctor immediately if you notice any changes in how well you or your child can see.
Do not take this if you have a known severe allergy to any of its ingredients. Before starting this medicine, you must tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, pre-existing vision issues, or a history of depression or other mental health conditions. Your doctor will carefully weigh the risks and benefits to ensure this medicine is safe for your specific situation.
This medicine can interact with other drugs, especially other anti-seizure medications, which may increase sleepiness or affect drug levels in the blood. Avoid alcohol while taking this medicine, as it can make you feel more drowsy and dizzy. If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or an older adult, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.
Uses of Vigabatrin
Medicinal Benefits
Vigabatrin helps control certain difficult-to-treat seizure disorders by reducing abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Better seizure control can improve safety, daily functioning, and overall quality of life.
- Helps Reduce Seizure Frequency and Severity: By calming overactive brain signals, Vigabatrin helps reduce the number and intensity of seizures in people with resistant seizure disorders.
- Supports Brain Health in Infants with Spasms: Early control of infantile spasms is important for protecting the developing brain and supporting healthy physical and cognitive development.
- Improves Safety and Daily Stability: Better seizure control can reduce the risk of injuries during daily activities and help children and adults maintain a more stable, predictable routine.
Directions for Use
- Vigabatrin can be taken with or without food as advised by the doctor.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication to ensure safety.
- Check the label for instructions. Mix the contents of the sachet/package in 10ml of water, then administer the prescribed amount.
- Do not store the mixture for later use.
Storage
Side Effects of Vigabatrin
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Sleepiness, fatigue, or feeling unusually tired
- Dizziness or trouble keeping your balance
- Irritability, fussiness, or mood changes (especially in babies and young children)
- Weight gain
- Joint or muscle pain
Serious Side Effects (Consult a doctor right away):
- Changes in vision, including a loss of side (peripheral) vision, blurred vision, or tunnel vision
- New or worsening depression, anxiety, or thoughts of hurting yourself
- Severe allergic reactions, such as swelling of the face, tongue, or throat, severe hives, or difficulty breathing
- Extreme muscle weakness, numbness, or tingling in your hands or feet
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Always check the powder packets before mixing; do not use the medicine if the packaging is torn, wet, or if the powder looks discoloured or clumped.
- Never stop taking this medicine suddenly. Doing so can cause severe, continuous, and life-threatening seizures. Any reduction in dose must be done slowly under a doctor's supervision.
- This medicine carries a boxed warning for permanent peripheral vision loss. Make sure to complete all scheduled eye exams, even if you do not notice any changes in your sight.
- Avoid driving, riding a bike, or operating machinery until you are certain how this medicine affects your coordination and alertness.
- Always use the precise oral dosing syringe or measuring device provided with the medicine to prepare and take your dose; regular household spoons are not accurate.
Drug Interactions
- Other Anti-Seizure Medicines: Taking this medicine alongside other seizure drugs (such as clonazepam) can increase drowsiness, cause coordination problems, or alter the levels of these medicines in your blood.
- Retinal-Damaging Medications: Avoid taking this medicine with other drugs known to cause vision problems or damage the retina, as this can increase the risk of permanent visual field loss.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeIt is unsafe to consume alcohol while taking Vigabatrin since it may worsen the side effects.
Pregnancy
cautionThere are no adequate and well-controlled studies on pregnant women. Inform your doctor before receiving the Vigabatrin if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionThere has been no significant research on using Vigabatrin in breastfeeding/nursing moms. So, let your doctor know if you are a nursing mother before taking Vigabatrin; your doctor will decide whether breastfeeding mothers can take Vigabatrin.
Driving
unsafeVigabatrin may cause colour blindness or blurred vision; therefore, do not drive or operate machinery.
Liver
cautionIf you have liver problems, inform your doctor before taking Vigabatrin. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Vigabatrin.
Kidney
cautionIf you have kidney problems, inform your doctor before taking Vigabatrin. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Vigabatrin.
Children
consult your doctorPlease consult your doctor. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and risks before prescribing this medicine for your child.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Prioritise Eye Exams: Since this medicine can cause permanent vision loss, attend all scheduled vision and eye tracking tests. These are typically required before starting, every few months during treatment, and after stopping the medicine.
- Maintain a Consistent Sleep Schedule: Lack of sleep is a well-documented trigger for seizures. Establish a calming, regular bedtime routine to ensure adequate rest.
- Keep a Detailed Seizure Diary: Track the time, duration, and details of every seizure, along with daily doses. This helps your healthcare team evaluate how well the treatment is working.
- Stay Safely Hydrated: Ensure you or your child drinks plenty of fluids, especially when taking the oral solution, to assist general bodily functions and ease digestion.
Special Advise
- Regular vision tests are recommended.
- Pay close attention to any changes in mood, behaviour, thoughts, or feelings, especially if they are sudden.
- Maintain all scheduled follow-up appointments with your healthcare practitioner.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Refractory complex partial seizures: Seizures are considered refractory when two or more AEDs (anti-epileptic drugs) have failed to control the seizures. Seizures are bursts of electrical activity in the brain that temporarily affect how it works. They can cause a wide range of symptoms.
Infantile spasms: Infantile spasms, also known as West syndrome, are a form of seizure that occurs in infants. Spasms appear as a sudden stiffening of muscles, with the baby's arms, legs, or head bending forward. Seizures occur in a chain of brief spasms lasting one to two seconds.
FAQs
Vigabatrin is used alone or with other medicines to treat refractory complex partial seizures in adults and children two years of age and older and infantile spasms in children.
Vigabatrin contains Vigabatrin. It increases the amount of the chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. Low levels of GABA cause some seizures. When Vigabatrin increases GABA, it reduces the likelihood of a seizure.
No, Vigabatrin should not be stopped even if you start feeling better. Abrupt stopping may cause continuous seizures, which can be difficult to control. To treat your condition effectually, continue taking Vigabatrin for as long as prescribed. Do not be reluctant to speak with your doctor if you feel any difficulty while taking Vigabatrin; your doctor will gradually reduce the dose to avoid precipitating seizures.
Brain cells must work (fire) at a specific rate to function normally. During a seizure, brain cells are forced to perform faster than usual. During a seizure, Vigabatrin causes chemical changes in the brain that slow down the firing of brain cells.
The most concerning adverse effect is the possibility of losing peripheral vision. This means that people may be unable to see clearly to the sides, as well as high up and low down. The risk of new and severe vision loss remains as long as Vigabatrin is used and possibly after the medicine is stopped. Periodic vision testing (suggested every three months) is essential for Vigabatrin patients but cannot reliably prevent visual impairment.
Vigabatrin may cause suicidal thoughts such as killing or harming yourself. People taking Vigabatrin should be closely monitored for suicidal thoughts or behaviour. Speak with your doctor immediately if you need to.
Pay close attention to any changes in mood, behaviour, thoughts, or feelings, especially if they are sudden.
No, your doctor will adjust the dose of Vigabatrin tablets according to your child’s age and body weight. This will have the same effect as the powder.
Vigabatrin may cause common psychiatric side effects such as nervousness, agitation, irritability, aggression, depression, sleeplessness, thought disturbance and paranoia (feeling suspicious without reason). These are temporary side effects and are usually reversible when the dose is lowered or gradually discontinued. Severe psychological disturbances (such as feeling extremely happy or over-excited which may cause strange behaviour and the person may feel detached from reality) are rare but may also occur.
If someone takes more than the recommended dose of Vigabatrin, it may lead to overdose resulting in symptoms such as drowsiness or loss/depressed level of consciousness. Therefore, if you take more than the recommended dose of Vigabatrin, please consult your doctor immediately or go to a nearby hospital.
Yes, Vigabatrin may affect memory or concentration in some people. Other factors may also contribute to memory problems like anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance and frequent seizures (fits). Consult your doctor if you experience any of these effects.
If you forget to take a dose of Vigabatrin, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next scheduled dose in the prescribed time. Do not double the dose to make up for the missed one as this may increase the risk of side effects.
It is essential to take Vigabatrin at prescribed intervals. Make a plan and ask your doctor to assist you in adjusting to time zone changes. Keep Vigabatrin in its original packaging and carry doctor’s prescription. It is possible to find Vigabatrin abroad depending on your destination. However, it is best to make sure you have enough stock for yourself.
Yes, this medicine can cause a permanent loss of side (peripheral) vision. Because of this risk, your doctor will require regular vision exams before and during treatment. Talk to your doctor immediately if you notice any changes in your sight.
Dissolve the prescribed powder completely in the specific amount of water recommended by your doctor. Stir well and drink the entire mixture immediately. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you need help with preparation.
This medicine may cause harm to an unborn baby. However, uncontrolled seizures also carry serious risks. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk to your doctor to carefully weigh the benefits and risks.
Yes, you can take this medicine with or without food. Try to be consistent in how you take it each day to help keep stable drug levels in your body. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions.
Do not give another dose right away without professional advice. Contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately to find out the safest next step for your child.
Generally, vision tests are required before starting, every three months during treatment, and for about six months after stopping the medicine. Talk to your doctor about your specific testing schedule.
Yes, drowsiness, sleepiness, and fatigue are common side effects of this medicine. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine affects your alertness. Talk to your doctor if this sleepiness interferes with daily activities.
