[Experience with tiagabine in the clinical practice; new insights as to the efficacy and safety profile].
Tiagabine is a relatively new anticonvulsive agent. Data concerning safety and efficacy come from randomised controlled trials whose relation to everyday clinical practice is poorly defined. We analysed retrospectively the data of 56 patients to whom tiagabine was routinely prescribed in a special clinic. Effect and adverse events were registered according to documentation of routine visits in the outpatient clinic. After a median of 89 weeks, 22 patients (39%) still received tiagabine. All of them noted a reduction in seizure frequency, and eight (14%) became seizure-free. Reasons for stopping the medication were: an increase in seizure frequency, lack of efficacy, tiagabine-associated non-convulsive status epilepticus and sudden and short episodes of mental chang. However, tiagabine seems to be an effective anticonvulsant in clinical practice but should remain in the hands of experienced prescribers until further clarification of possible risk factors for proconvulsive effects.
Kellinghaus
C
C
Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster.
Loddenkemper
T
T
Weitemeyer
L
L
Lüdemann
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009557:Nipecotic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D000078308:Tiagabine; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D009557:Nipecotic Acids; D000078308:Tiagabine