title: Open study of clobazam in refractory epilepsy.
abstract: Clobazam is a 1,5-benzodiazepine reported to have a wide spectrum of antiepileptic activity and is associated with less neurotoxicity than the 1,4-benzodiazepines, nitrazepam and clonazepam. The effect of clobazam on seizure control and neurologic behavior was examined prospectively in 115 children (average age: 8.4 years) with intractable seizures. Eighteen children (16%) became seizure free and a further 35 (31%) demonstrated a greater than 90% decrease in seizure frequency. Tolerance to the antiepileptic effect of clobazam was observed in 30 of 79 children (38%) who demonstrated an initial improvement in seizure control. Complete tolerance was observed in 9 patients, partial tolerance in 9, and partial tolerance that responded to an increased dose of clobazam in 12. Seventy-two percent of patients reported improvement and 26% worsening in at least one parameter of neurologic function after beginning clobazam. The improvement in neurologic function correlated poorly with change in seizure control. Patients who discontinued 1,4-benzodiazepine (n = 37) had a greater improvement in attention span, alertness, balance, drooling, and mood compared to the remainder of the group. These data suggest that clobazam is effective in the treatment of children with a wide range of epilepsies and seizure types and support the clinical impression that clobazam is associated with less neurotoxicity than the 1,4-benzodiazepines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics; University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Munn
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Farrell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D001570:Benzodiazepinones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000078306:Clobazam; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D017277:Drug Approval; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D001570:Benzodiazepinones; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000078306:Clobazam