title: Use of acetazolamide as an adjunct to carbamazepine in refractory partial seizures.
abstract: Acetazolamide (Diamox) (AZM) was evaluated as an adjunct to carbamazepine (CBZ) monotherapy in 48 refractory partial seizure patients at a tertiary care referral center. Patient ages ranged from 6 to 64 years (average 28 years). Seizure frequencies for the pre-AZM baseline period (CBZ monotherapy) were compared with the seizure frequencies at different daily doses of AZM. Patients with a 50% decrease in seizure frequency were considered responders. Twenty-one patients were responders (44%) and three became completely seizure-free. Effective doses ranged from 3.8 to 22.0 mg/kg/day. Effective plasma concentrations ranged from 1 to 22 micrograms/ml in selected patients. Durations of response time to AZM ranged from 3 to 30 months (average 12.9 months). Three patients lost response, one temporarily. Side effects were seen in 10 patients, requiring discontinuation in three.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Oles
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Penry
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Howard
mesh_terms: D000086:Acetazolamide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration
chemical_list: D002220:Carbamazepine; D000086:Acetazolamide