Vigabatrin as first add-on treatment in carbamazepine-resistant epilepsy patients.
Numerous clinical reports and several controlled clinical trials have confirmed that vigabatrin is both effective and well-tolerated as an add-on treatment for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. This report presents the results of a study of 40 patients (22 women and 18 men), aged 19-60 years (mean 37 years), with partial seizures (with or without secondary generalization) and receiving carbamazepine, 600-1800 mg/day. Vigabatrin was given as first add-on drug at a dose of 2-3 g/day for an average of 6 months, in order to assess the clinical response before considering other anti-epilepsy drugs. There was a significant decrease in seizure frequency, from a median of 13 seizures/month at baseline, to 3 seizures/month during the last month on vigabatrin (p < 0.01). Seven patients became seizure-free (17.5%). The most common adverse events experienced during the study were drowsiness, diplopia/blurred vision, and were already present before vigabatrin treatment. In conclusion, vigabatrin is effective as a first add-on therapy for partial epilepsy, refractory to carbamazepine monotherapy, and appears to be a worthy clinical alternative to other drug combinations.
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020888:Vigabatrin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D020888:Vigabatrin