Withdrawal of barbiturate anticonvulsant drugs: prospective controlled study.
A barbiturate (phenobarbital or primidone) was withdrawn over a period of 3 months from 25 institutionalized residents, all of whom had had three seizures or less in the past 6 months and were maintained on a nonsedating drug (phenytoin, carbamazepine, or valproic acid). Results were compared with a matched comparison group maintained on both drugs. Subjects withdrawn from primidone, but not those withdrawn from phenobarbital, had increased seizure frequency, probably due to withdrawal. After 14 months, seizure-free subjects withdrawn from barbiturates were no more likely to have had seizures than were comparison subjects. Barbiturates appear to be unnecessary and may be withdrawn.
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Pediatric Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston City Hospital, MA 02118.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000188:drug therapy; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011324:Primidone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D011324:Primidone; D010634:Phenobarbital