News | Neurological conditions

News

Medicated wafer to be approved for the treatment of frequent migraines on the NHS

Rimegepant will be available on the NHS for patients who have tried at least 3 other preventative therapies, and have at least 4 and fewer than 15 migraine attacks per month.…

Published: 1 June 2023

News

Alzheimer’s drug being considered by MHRA for UK approval

If approved, experts say lecanemab would be the first Alzheimer's disease drug in the UK for nearly 20 years.…

Published: 23 May 2023

News

Alzheimer’s drug slows cognitive decline by 35%, says manufacturer

Results of a phase III trial by Lilly have shown donanemab can slow cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer's disease by 35%, as well as lower the risk of progressing to the next stage of the disease by 39%.…

Published: 4 May 2023

News

Prenatal exposure to levetiracetam linked with increased risk of psychiatric disorders, study suggests

Research has shown that prenatal exposure to levetiracetam is linked with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and anxiety.…

Published: 19 April 2023

News

Epilepsy charities call on government to immediately halt two-clinician sign-off for patients taking valproate

A coalition of epilepsy charities has said the decision is "totally out of proportion to the risks to patient safety".…

Published: 28 March 2023

News

Third of women taking anti-seizure medication unaware of pregnancy risks, survey reveals

Data from a survey by three epilepsy charities has shown that a third of women taking carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, pregabalin or topiramate are unaware of the increased risk of birth defects if taken during pregnancy.…

Published: 24 March 2023

News

Sharp increase in prescribing of generic Parkinson’s disease medicines since 2017, analysis finds

Exclusive: Analysis by The Pharmaceutical Journal has revealed significant increases in prescribing of generic medicines for Parkinson's disease between 2017 and 2021, while prescribing of branded medicines decreased.…

Published: 21 March 2023

News

Whole-pack dispensing of sodium valproate made mandatory following consultation 

The legislation will help address concerns around women taking sodium valproate, who may be unaware of the risks posed to their unborn child if they fall pregnant.…

Published: 20 March 2023

Feature

Spotlight: the ‘new thalidomide’

In the first of a new podcast series, we consider whether the UK is doing enough to prevent harm from sodium valproate.…

Published: 24 February 2023

News

Government advisers warn of ‘negative impact’ of two-clinician sign-off on valproate patients

Exclusive: Meeting minutes of the Valproate Safety Implementation Group say the new measure could have a “negative impact” on patients, and that “their perspective should be taken into account”.…

Published: 13 February 2023