Treatment of Benign Essential Blepharospasm and Idiopathic Hemifacial Spasm with Vimpat (Lacosamide)

Methods: Lacosamide (Vimpat), a recently released, novel anticonvulsant was used to treat one patient with hemifacial spasm and a second patient with both benign essential blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm. Lacosamide selectively enhances the slow inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels resulting in stabilization of hyperexcitable neuronal membranes and inhibition of repetitive neuronal firing.