title: Amantadine for the treatment of refractory absence seizures in children.
abstract: Amantadine has demonstrated efficacy in small series for absence and myoclonic type seizures. We examined the efficacy of amantadine for treating refractory absence seizures in a cohort of pediatric patients. We retrospectively reviewed medical records for patients with absence seizures treated with amantadine at Cook Children's Medical Center after January 2007. Abstracted data included sex, age at initiation, concomitant antiepileptic drugs, amantadine dosing, and seizure frequency. Outcomes at 3, 6, and 12 months after initiation were categorized as >90%, ≥50%, or <50% reduction in seizure frequency. Of 13 patients included in the study, many were exposed to multiple antiepileptic drugs (median, 3; range, 1-6). Three were implanted with a vagus nerve stimulator. A response of at least 50% seizure reduction was reported in more than 50% of patients reviewed at 3, 6, and 12 months after initiating treatment. Among responders, a majority had >90% reduction in seizure frequency. Amantadine may constitute an efficacious alternative treatment for refractory absence seizures.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Cook Children's Medical Center, Fort Worth, Texas 76109, USA. Scott.perry@cookchildrens.org
authors.forename: M Scott
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Laurie J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Amy C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Kotecha
authors.forename: Saleem I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Angel W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Hernandez
mesh_terms: D000547:Amantadine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004832:Epilepsy, Absence / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015259:Dopamine Agents; D000547:Amantadine