title: Efficacy of second line antiepileptic drugs in the treatment of patients with medically refractive complex partial seizures.
abstract: The efficacy of second-line antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) was evaluated in the treatment of 66 patients with complex partial seizures who had previously failed first-line AEDs. Methsuximide, valproate, or clorazepate had eliminated seizures in 11% of the patients at the end of the study. However, these good results deteriorated on longer follow-up and were not expected to be permanent. It is recommended that suitable patients with partial epilepsy be referred for surgical evaluation after failing the first-line AEDs, and that second-line AEDs be reserved for nonsurgical candidates.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Dasheiff
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McNamara
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dickinson
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003009:Clorazepate Dipotassium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D013388:Succinimides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D013388:Succinimides; C100286:methsuximide; D014635:Valproic Acid; D003009:Clorazepate Dipotassium