Double-blind placebo-controlled trial of flunarizine as add-on therapy in epilepsy.
In a therapy-resistant epileptic population with partial complex seizures with or without secondary generalization, addition of flunarizine to existing therapy was accompanied by a significant reduction in complex partial and tonic-clonic seizures. This result did not appear to be due to serial effects or changes in the plasma levels of the co-medication. Side effects were rare. The serum flunarizine levels (13.8 ng/ml; range, 3-32.5 ng/ml) were lower than previously reported on a daily dose of 10 mg. This may reflect increased metabolism due to induction of liver enzymes by the co-medication. Given this finding, together with the low incidence of side effects, a further study is required to determine whether higher blood levels would give an improved degree and incidence of seizure reduction.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002936:Cinnarizine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005444:Flunarizine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D010879:Piperazines; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D002936:Cinnarizine; D005444:Flunarizine