Long-term cognitive and EEG effects of tiagabine in drug-resistant partial epilepsy.
A new anti-epileptic drug, tiagabine, is a potent inhibitor of GABA uptake into neurons and glia. Tiagabine has shown promising efficacy and safety profiles as add-on treatment for partial seizures. We evaluated the long-term effects of tiagabine on cognition and EEG in 37 patients with partial epilepsy. The study protocol consisted of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group add-on study and an open-label extension study. During the 3 month double-blind phase at low doses (30 mg/day) tiagabine treatment did not cause any cognitive or EEG changes as compared with placebo. Tiagabine treatment did not cause deterioration in cognitive performance or produce any rhythmic slow-wave activity or other constant, new abnormalities on EEG during longer follow-up with successful treatment on higher doses after 6-12 months (mean 65.7 mg/day, range 30-80 mg/day) and after 18-24 months (mean dose 67.6 mg/day, range 24-80 mg/day). The daily dosages in the long-term follow-up of the present study are higher than in the previous reports.
Kälviäinen
R
R
Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Kuopio, Finland. reetta.kalviainen@kuh.fi
Aikiä
M
M
Mervaala
E
E
Saukkonen
A M
AM
Pitkänen
A
A
Riekkinen
P J
PJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D014179:Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009557:Nipecotic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000078308:Tiagabine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014179:Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors; D009557:Nipecotic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000078308:Tiagabine