title: Association of lamotrigine and valproate in refractory epilepsies of children and adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy or eventual side-effects of the association of lamotrigine and sodium valproate in the control of refractory epilepsies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of 37 children with a mean age of 12 years taking exclusively lamotrigine and sodium valproate. Efficacy of seizure control was considered satisfactory if there was a reduction in seizures>50% or total control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The association of lamotrigine and sodium valproate was considered satisfactory in 65% of the studied children, independent of seizure type. Total seizure control was obtained in 33% and 35% had an unsatisfactory response or remained unchanged. Primary generalized tonic clonic seizures were the most common type with 84% of day-time seizures having a good response to treatment. Side-effects were seen in 11% of patients and the most common was tremor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total or satisfactory control of seizures was seen in the majority of patients and side-effects were uncommon.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Neuropediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Karen P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Grisotto
authors.forename: Isac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bruck
authors.forename: Sérgio A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Antoniuk
authors.forename: Lúcia H C
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000517:prevention & control; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014227:Triazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014227:Triazines; D014635:Valproic Acid; D000077213:Lamotrigine