A double-blind study comparing carbamazepine with phenytoin as initial seizure therapy in adults.
Carbamazepine was compared with phenytoin in a double-blind study. Of 87 patients, data on 70 patients were complete and used for analysis. Thirty-five patients were treated with each drug. The incidence of major side effects, minor side effects, and complete control (85%) was the same in both groups. A mild but significant elevation of WBC count was found before initiation of drug treatment in the patients presenting with generalized convulsive seizures. Sporadically, elevations in SGOT and LDH were seen; WBC counts below 4,000 were reported, but these were not clinically significant.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy*
D002220:Carbamazepine; D010672:Phenytoin