The clinical anti-convulsant effects of flumazenil, a benzodiazepine antagonist.
The clinical anti-convulsant effect of flumazenil in epilepsy has been demonstrated: (i) by acute i.v. administration under EEG control in an epileptic patient who had been previously heavily sedated with diazepam; (ii) in patients undergoing pharmaco-EEG studies whereby spike and wave counts were diminished following oral administration of 10 mg of flumazenil; and (iii) in a series of 27 epileptic patients treated chronically for periods of up to 42 months with flumazenil as monotherapy or as addition to basic therapy. The daily dose ranged from 10-90 mg. Before treatment all patients presented with frequent seizures and had an abnormal EEG. In these patients the anti-convulsant effect was good or very good in 70% of the previously untreated (naive) patients and in about half of the patients who had epilepsy of long duration and had been treated already with standard anti-convulsants. Side-effects with flumazenil were generally mild in nature and rarely led to discontinuation. About one-third of the patients expressed a feeling of well-being while under therapy with flumazenil. A possible mechanism of action is discussed.
Scollo-Lavizzari
G
G
Neurological University Clinic, Basle University Hospital, Switzerland.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D005442:Flumazenil