Felbatol (FEL-bah-tol) is the brand name used in the United States for the seizure medicine felbamate (FEL-bah-mate). Felbamate is not available in Canada, the UK, or Australia. It is available in some European countries using the name Taloxa (marketed by Schering Plough).

When Felbatol was introduced in 1993, it carried high expectations. Many hoped it would be able to control seizure disorders that had not been controlled before. Unfortunately, after only 1 year the FDA recommended withdrawal of patients from Felbatol because of reports of very serious side effects (aplastic anemia or liver failure). The evidence discouraged both patients and doctors from using Felbatol, and many doctors do not even consider prescribing the drug.

Forms
Felbatol is marketed in the United States by Medpointe Pharmaceuticals. The name or appearance may differ in other places. The dose (measured in milligrams, abbreviated "mg") will usually be the same. These descriptions apply to the U.S. versions:

Tablets

		400-mg(yellow, scored, capsule-shaped)
		600-mg(peach-colored, scored, capsule-shaped)

Oral suspension
600 mg/5 mL peach-colored liquid

No generic form of felbamate is available in the United States.

How to take and store Felbatol
Follow your doctor's directions. Call if you have any questions. Doctors usually tell adults to start by taking 600 to 1200 milligrams (mg) total per day. The doctor will probably recommend taking a part of this dose at three or four different times each day. A similar dose for children is 15 mg per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of the child's weight. After a week or two, larger doses probably will be prescribed to get better control of seizures. If other seizure medicines are being used at the same time, you may be told to use smaller amounts of them. Be sure to follow the doctor's instructions carefully. Ask the doctor what to do if you forget a dose.

Felbatol can be taken either with food or without food.

If you are using the suspension (liquid), shake the bottle well immediately before measuring it. Use the same standard-size measuring spoon or dropper each time so the dose will be correct. Store the bottle at room temperature and keep it out of the reach of children.

Be careful if the doctor writes a new prescription using a different kind of pill. For example, if you've been using 400-mg tablets and the new prescription is for 600-mg tablets, be careful to use the correct number. Don't automatically continue to use the same number of pills as before.

Use only the amount of Felbatol that the doctor prescribes. If you think you've used an extra tablet or two or an extra teaspoon of liquid, call the doctor for advice. For a larger overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency room right away. There have been no reports of serious harm resulting from an overdose of Felbatol, however.

Don't stop using Felbatol or change the amount taken without talking to the doctor first. Stopping any seizure medicine all at once can cause a serious problem called status epilepticus.

What if I forget?
Felbamate is usually taken three or four times a day. Doctors know that when medicine is taken so often, people are more likely to forget a dose now and then. Do your best to follow the doctor's directions. If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, delay that dose for a few hours instead of taking two doses very close together. Then go back to the regular schedule.

If you forget doses often, it may be a good idea to get a special pillbox or watch with an alarm to remind you.

Taking the right amount of seizure medicine on time every single day is the most important step in preventing seizures!