title: [Curative effect of gabapentin on refractory epilepsy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the safety and efficacy of gabapentin in treatment of refractory epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six patients with refractory epilepsy were treated with gabapentin 200 mg/d and 72 patients with placebo, totally 138 patients in five hospitals in different cities in China. Double-blind study was performed to observe the times of seizure, and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Activities of Daily Life (ADL) assessment were conducted every 4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with the control group, the seizure times at any time point in the GB group all decreased with significant differences at the 12th and 20th weeks. The significant efficacy rates, with the seizure times decreasing by more than 75%, in the gabapentin group were higher than those in the control group, with significant differences in the 4, 8, 16, and 20th weeks. Both the MMSE scores of the 2 groups were raised with a significant difference between the 2 groups at the 16 weeks. There was no significant difference in ADL between these 2 groups. No serious side effect was found in these 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gabapentin at a dosage of 1200 mg/d is safe and effective in treatment of epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040.
authors.forename: Guo-Xing
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Mei-Ping
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: De-Xin
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: De-Sheng
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yi-Zhen
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Qing-Chen
authors.initials: QC
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yang-Fu
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Guang-Yu
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Chuan-Zhen
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Lü
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000588:Amines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin