Comparison of add-on valproate and primidone in carbamazepine-unresponsive patients with partial epilepsy.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of the efficacy of add-on valproate (VPA) or primidone (PRM) in patients with partial epilepsy unresponsive to carbamazepine (CBZ).


METHODS
The trial was prospective and open. Patients, aged 8-58 years, with partial epilepsy who did not become seizure free on CBZ were randomized to either VPA add-on or PRM add-on. The baseline period and the evaluation period were both 3 months. Proportions of patients with different degrees of reduction in seizure frequency were determined.


RESULTS
Significantly more patients on VPA (51% of 68 patients) achieved a greater than 50% seizure reduction than on PRM (34% of 68 patients). There was no significant difference in percentage seizure free (26% and 16%, respectively) or in percentage treatment withdrawals due to adverse effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicated that the efficacy of the CBZ/VPA combination tends to be greater than the efficacy of the CBZ/PRM combination.
Sun
Mei Zhen
MZ
Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China. meizhensun23@yahoo.com
Deckers
Charles L P
CL
Liu
Yu Xi
YX
Wang
Wei
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011324:Primidone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D011324:Primidone; D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid