[Treatment of epilepsy with third-line antiepileptic drugs: felbamate, tiagabine, and sulthiame].
BACKGROUND
We retrospectively analysed the anticonvulsant efficacy of add-on treatment with felbamate (FBM), tiagabine (TGB), or sulthiame (STM) in patients with intractable focal and/or secondarily generalised seizures.


RESULTS
Forty-one patients (25 men, 16 women, mean age 29 years, mean duration of epilepsy 25 years) were treated with FBM. In nine patients (21.9%) seizure frequency was reduced by more than 50% (mean FBM dosage 3211 mg), and 13 patients (31.7%) reported side effects. Fifty-three patients (26 men, 27 women, mean age 38 years, mean duration of epilepsy 24 years) were treated with TGB. In seven patients (13.2%) seizure frequency was reduced by more than 50% (mean TGB dosage 32.9 mg), and 28 patients (52.8%) reported side effects. Twenty-eight patients (14 men, 14 women, mean age 32.6 years, mean duration of epilepsy 24.9 years) were treated with STM. In five patients (17.8%) seizure frequency was reduced by more than 50% (mean STM dosage 275 mg), and four patients (14.2%) reported side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Third-line antiepileptic drugs, especially FBM and STM, are fairly well tolerated and contribute to seizure control.
Chahem
J
J
Klinik für Epileptologie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, Bonn, Germany.
Bauer
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000078328:Felbamate; D006801:Humans; D009557:Nipecotic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D048448:Phenylcarbamates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013843:Thiazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000078308:Tiagabine; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000078328:Felbamate; D009557:Nipecotic Acids; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D011409:Propylene Glycols; D013843:Thiazines; D000078308:Tiagabine; C084593:sulthiame; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides