COVID-19 in patients with seizures: considerations for therapeutic
management and potential drug-drug interactions
Abstract
In regard to the global pandemic of COVID-19, it seems that persons with
epilepsy (PWE) are not more vulnerable to get infected by SARS-CoV-2,
nor are they more susceptible to a critical course of the disease.
However, management of acute seizures in patients with COVID-19 as well
as management of PWE and COVID-19 needs to consider potential drug-drug
interactions between antiseizure drugs and candidate drugs currently
assessed as therapeutic options for COVID-19. Repurposing of several
licensed and investigational drugs is discussed for therapeutic
management of COVID-19. While for none of these approaches, efficacy and
tolerability has been confirmed yet in sufficiently powered and
controlled clinical studies, testing is ongoing with multiple clinical
trials worldwide. Here, we have summarized the possible mechanisms of
action of drugs currently considered as potential therapeutic options
for COVID-19 management along with possible and confirmed drug-drug
interactions that should be considered for a combination of antiseizure
drugs and COVID-19 candidate drugs.