Epilog.us Hosts Expert Panel Discussion On The Pharmacodynamics Of Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDS)

MAPLE GROVE, Minn., Jan. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. [http://www.upsher-smith.com] today announced that its epilepsy-focused educational website, Epilog.us [http://www.Epilog.us], now features a panel discussion of leading experts on the role of rational polytherapy in the treatment of patients with epilepsy, led by Dr. Barry Gidal, Professor of Pharmacy and Neurology/Division Chair, University of Wisconsin.  Dr. Gidal also brings forward discussion on the mechanism of action of specific antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).  Additional topics include: AED pharmacokinetics; patient adherence and AEDs; and drug interactions.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/59891-upsher-smith-epilog-us-pharmacodynamics-of-antiepileptic-drugs-aeds 

"In my experience, up to 40 percent of patients with epilepsy require more than a single antiepileptic drug to achieve seizure control," said Dr. Gidal.  "This means clinicians should be mindful of the pharmacodynamic interactions of multiple agents.  For example, the use of combinations of drugs with similar mechanisms of action may result in an increased appearance of central nervous system adverse effects."

The resources available on Epilog.us related to AED Pharmacodynamics include:

• AED Pharmacodynamics Panel Discussion Video moderated by Dr. Barry Gidal:  Dr. Gidal moderates a question and answer discussion with leading epilepsy experts on the advantages and disadvantages of polytherapy and monotherapy in AED treatment regimens.
• AED Polytherapy Podcast with Dr. Michael Rogawski, Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurology, School of Medicine University of California, Davis:  Dr. Rogawski reviews the history of polytherapy AED regimens and the importance of mechanism/mode of action (MOA) when combining certain AEDs.
• Understanding the Pharmacology of AEDs Video:  Dr. Gidal and Dr. Raman Sankar, Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, Chief of Pediatric Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, speak to the correlations between AED pharmacokinetics, patient adherence, and drug interactions, and expand upon the MOA of specific AEDs.
• Molecular Targets for Antiepileptic Therapy Animated Video:  This narrated video provides a review of the molecular targets of the common AED classes.
• Additional AED Pharmacodynamics topics include:  frequently asked questions; agree/disagree statements; and an online polling question.

Epilog.us is an educational disease website offering healthcare professionals who treat epilepsy some of the latest evidence-based scientific data, dialogue on modern therapy issues, and expert insights by some of the field's most respected clinicians.  The site features regularly updated content including videos, white papers, podcasts, and interactive components addressing various epilepsy-related topics.  In addition to Pharmacodynamics & Epilepsy, Epilog.us also features current content related to Women & Epilepsy, Epilepsy & Comorbidities, Practice Management & Epilepsy, and Aging & Epilepsy. 

Upsher-Smith's CNS Pipeline
Upsher-Smith's central nervous system (CNS) pipeline includes a number of investigational drug programs for various indications within epilepsy, including USL255, USL260, and USL261.

About Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a medical condition that produces seizures affecting a variety of cognitive and physical functions.  More than two million people in the U.S. are estimated to be affected by epilepsy with about 200,000 new cases of epilepsy diagnosed each year.¹

About Upsher-Smith
Upsher-Smith, founded in 1919, is an independent and privately-owned specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Maple Grove, Minnesota that focuses on product growth and innovation for branded, branded-generic and generic pharmaceuticals.  Upsher-Smith has a particular focus on providing therapies to assist people suffering from central nervous system diseases (including epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease) and also markets products relating to cardiology, dermatology and women's health.  In addition to products currently marketed, Upsher-Smith has an emerging neurology pipeline with three products in clinical development, two of which are in Phase III clinical trials.  For more information, visit www.upsher-smith.com.

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SOURCE Upsher-Smith Laboratories