Emerging treatments for dravet and lennox-gastaut syndromes

Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome are severe epileptic encephalopathies that manifest during early childhood. Challenging to diagnose and treat, patients often develop severe neurologic, intellectual, and behavioral disorders that progressively worsen. While multiple pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions exist, careful selection of therapy is paramount as some medications can exacerbate seizures. With the recent approval of Epidiolex (cannabidiol) for the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut or Dravet syndrome, providers and patients have an additional therapeutic option to consider. Within this context, pharmacists have a vital role in educating providers, caregivers, and patients on medication therapy.