Calcium antagonist nimodipine in intractable epilepsy.
The influx of Ca2+ into the neuron seems to play an important role in the genesis of epileptic seizures, and current research suggests that calcium entry blockers may have anticonvulsant activity. We used nimodipine, a calcium antagonist with high central nervous system affinity at a fixed dosage of 30 mg, t.i.d., in 21 patients with intractable epilepsy caused by organic brain lesions in addition to basal antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy. After a 12-week treatment period 14 patients (67%) showed a decrease in seizure frequency, four patients had no change, and three had an increase. In eight patients (38%) seizure frequency decreased by greater than 40%. The p value with one-tailed t-test was 0.0491. No significant modifications in AED or electrolyte serum levels were found. One patient had a lowering of blood pressure at this dosage.
de Falco
F A
FA
Department of Neurophysiology, 2nd School of Medicine, University of Naples, Italy.
Bartiromo
U
U
Majello
L
L
Di Geronimo
G
G
Mundo
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D009553:Nimodipine