Clonazepam in the treatment of epilepsy. A clinical long-term follow-up study.
Sixty-eight patients with various types of epileptic seizures have been treated with clonazepam (Rivotril). Fifty-four patients could be evaluated. In 44 patients, clonazepam was used as a supplement to insufficient previous medication. Ten patients received clonazepam alone. The mean duration of treatment was 2 years and 7 months. Thirty-three patients are still on clonazepam, with a mean duration of treatment of 3 years and 4 months. In 34 patients (63%) a reduction of more than 50% was seen in the seizure frequency of the only type suffered by a patient, or of one of several types. No significant decrease in antiepileptic potency with time was observed. Medication was withdrawn in a total of 21 of the 54 patients because of freedom from seizures (2 patients), lack of effect (7 patients), increased frequency of seizures (3 patients), or lack of cooperation and/or side-effects (3 patients). In 5 patients, the drug may have provoked new types of epileptic seizure. This long-term follow-up study seems to substantiate the favorable antiepileptic properties of clonazepam.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001570:Benzodiazepinones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002998:Clonazepam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000188:drug therapy; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000188:drug therapy; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
D001570:Benzodiazepinones; D002998:Clonazepam