title: Nifedipine as an add-on drug in the management of refractory epilepsy.
abstract: We report the effects of the addition of nifedipine, a calcium channel antagonist, to the antiepileptic therapy of 20 patients with severe medically refractory epilepsy. Six patients developed side effects and in two the drug had to be discontinued because of these. The commonest side effects were headaches, dizziness and lethargy. Two patients experienced deterioration in seizure control and only 2 patients showed improved seizure control. One of these patients subsequently developed tolerance at 5 months. In 16 patients there was no change.
authors.affiliation: INSEG--Epilepsy Research Group, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, U.K.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Trevisol-Bittencourt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D009543:Nifedipine