stiripentol at a glance
Medicine class
Antiseizure medicine
Licensed role
Add-on treatment with clobazam and valproate for Dravet syndrome
Specialist oversight
Treatment should be supervised by a clinician experienced in managing epilepsy.
Food and drink
Take with a meal; avoid fruit juice, fizzy drinks, caffeine and theophylline-containing products.
Available forms
Hard capsules and powder for oral suspension; switching forms requires clinical supervision.
What is stiripentol used for?
UK licensed use:
Adjunctive treatment with clobazam and valproate for refractory generalised tonic-clonic seizures associated with Dravet syndrome when those medicines have not provided adequate control.
How does stiripentol work?
Stiripentol strengthens inhibitory GABA signalling in the brain, helping to reduce neuronal excitability. It also inhibits several liver enzymes, which can increase exposure to clobazam and some other antiseizure medicines.
stiripentol preparations and strengths
Capsule
Route: Oral
Strengths: 250 mg, 500 mg
Oral suspension
Route: Oral
Strengths: 250 mg, 500 mg
How to take stiripentol
Follow the specialist's instructions and take stiripentol with a meal.
Swallow capsules whole with water; do not open them.
Mix the full sachet contents with a glass of water and take immediately after mixing.
Do not take it with fruit juice, fizzy drinks, coffee, tea, cola, energy drinks or chocolate.
Do not switch between capsules and sachets without clinical supervision.
stiripentol side effects
Common or expected effects
- Reduced appetite and weight loss
- Drowsiness or insomnia
- Poor coordination, reduced muscle tone or involuntary movements
- Irritability, agitation or other behavioural changes
- Nausea or vomiting
- Raised liver enzymes or reduced neutrophils on blood tests
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction, including breathing difficulty or swelling of the tongue or throat
- Low white-cell count accompanied by symptoms of infection
- Low platelet count accompanied by unusual bruising or bleeding
- Significant liver dysfunction
- Severe or spreading skin reaction
stiripentol in pregnancy
Human pregnancy data for stiripentol are lacking, so use requires an individual specialist assessment of benefits and risks. Pregnancy planning should include review of the entire antiseizure combination, particularly valproate. Do not stop epilepsy treatment without medical advice; seek urgent specialist advice if pregnancy occurs.
stiripentol while breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not recommended during stiripentol treatment because human milk data are unavailable. If treatment continues while breastfeeding, specialist assessment and careful observation of the infant are required.
stiripentol interactions
Stiripentol affects several liver enzymes and can substantially alter exposure to other medicines. Check all prescribed, non-prescription and complementary products.
Clobazam
Stiripentol can markedly increase clobazam and norclobazam exposure, increasing drowsiness, reduced muscle tone and other adverse effects.
Carbamazepine, phenytoin and phenobarbital
These should not be used with stiripentol for Dravet syndrome because of clinically important interactions.
Other antiseizure medicines
Levels of medicines including primidone, diazepam, ethosuximide and tiagabine may rise, requiring clinical or concentration monitoring.
Common questions about stiripentol
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is stiripentol used for?
It is used with clobazam and valproate to treat generalised tonic-clonic seizures associated with Dravet syndrome when those medicines alone have not provided adequate control.
Can stiripentol be used on its own?
No clinical study evidence supports stiripentol monotherapy in Dravet syndrome; its UK licence is for use with clobazam and valproate.
Can stiripentol capsules be opened?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.