title: Evidence-based treatment of idiopathic generalized epilepsies with older antiepileptic drugs.
abstract: Older antiepileptic drugs continue to play a major role in the treatment of the idiopathic generalized epilepsies. Comparative studies of ethosuximide and valproate have demonstrated equivalence in the treatment of childhood absence epilepsy. Valproate can be regarded as the recommended first-line treatment for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy based on case series reports. Studies in patients with generalized tonic-clonic seizures have not separated out idiopathic from secondary generalized events. Treatment for the other idiopathic generalized epilepsy syndromes lacks evidence other than a few case reports and diverse expert opinion. Further randomized controlled trials of older antiepileptic drugs are recommended to solidify the evidence-based treatment of the idiopathic generalized epilepsies.
authors.affiliation: Epilepsy Unit, Division of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nikolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hitiris
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Brodie
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D013577:Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants