[Gabapentin in 50 patients with epilepsy].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate monotherapy treatment with the anticonvulsant drug gabapentin, its efficacy and tolerability when used in patients with partial and secondary generalized partial epileptic seizures of recent onset who had not received treatment or who, in spite of treatment with other antiepileptic drugs failed to attain control over their seizures.


METHODS
We made an open prospective study of 50 patients diagnosed as having partial and secondarily generalized partial epileptic seizures. The patients were given treatment at their first visit and them regularly followed up for two years. Treatment was given progressively until a maintenance dose of 1.200 mg/day was reached, and the dose them adjusted individually.


RESULTS
We included 50 patients in the study; 78% were treated with gabapentin. Ten percent stopped this treatment because it was ineffective. All the patients who continued their treatment with gabapentin had their seizures reduced by over 50%. This reduction in the number of seizures is statistically significant (p < 0.05) for patients with partial and secondarily generalized partial seizures. Twelve percent of the group of patients stopped their treatment because of side-effects.


CONCLUSIONS
When the results of our study are evaluated and compared with those published in the literature, it may be seen that gabapentin is a safe, effective drug which is well tolerated when used as monotherapy for the treatment of patients with partial seizures.
Gracia-Fleta
F
F
Servicio de Neurología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, España.
Medrano-Martínez
V
V
Castaño-Pérez
M D
MD
Hernández-Lorido
R
R
Mañes
R
R
D000085:Acetates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
D000085:Acetates; D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin