rufinamide rufinamide rufinamide is an anticonvulsant medication. it is used in combination with other medication and therapy to treat lennox–gastaut syndrome and various other seizure disorders. rufinamide, a triazole derivative, was developed in 2004 by novartis pharma, ag, and is manufactured by eisai. not to be confused with ralfinamide. rufinamideclinical datatrade namesbanzel, inovelonahfs/drugs.commonographmedlineplusa609001license data eu ema: by inn us dailymed: rufinamide us fda: rufinamide pregnancycategory au: b3 routes ofadministrationby mouthatc coden03af03 (who) legal statuslegal status uk: pom (prescription only) us: ℞-only in general: ℞ (prescription only) pharmacokinetic databioavailability85% (under fed conditions); tmax = 4–6 hoursprotein binding34%metabolismcarboxylesterase-mediated hydrolysis (cyp not involved)metabolitesinactiveelimination half-life6–10 hoursexcretionurine (85%)identifiers iupac name 1-(2,6-difluorobenzyl)-1h-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxamide cas number106308-44-5 npubchem cid129228iuphar/bps7470chemspider114471 yuniiwfw942pr79keggd05775chemblchembl1201754 ncomptox dashboard (epa)dtxsid1046506 chemical and physical dataformulac10h8f2n4omolar mass238.198 g·mol−13d model (jsmol)interactive image smiles o=c(c1nnn(c1)cc2c(f)cccc2f)n inchi inchi=1s/c10h8f2n4o/c11-7-2-1-3-8(12)6(7)4-16-5-9(10(13)17)14-15-16/h1-3,5h,4h2,(h2,13,17) ykey:pogqsbrigcqneg-uhfffaoysa-n y ny (what is this?) (verify) rufinamide was approved by the us food and drug administration (fda) in november 2008, as adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with lennox-gastaut syndrome in children four years and older and adults. its official fda-approved labeling does not mention use in the treatment of partial seizures inasmuch as clinical trials submitted to the fda were marginal. however, several recent clinical trials suggest that the drug has efficacy for partial seizures it is marketed under the brand name banzel. it is also marketed in the european union under the brand name inovelon. it is available as a generic medication. the mechanism of action of rufinamide is not fully understood. there is some evidence that rufinamide can modulate the gating of voltage-gated sodium channels, a common target for antiepileptic drugs. a recent study indicates subtle effects on the voltage-dependence of gating and the time course of inactivation in some sodium channel isoforms that could reduce neuronal excitability. however, this action cannot explain the unique spectrum of activity of rufinamide.