title: Long-term use of clobazam in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome: experience in a single tertiary epilepsy center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clobazam (CLB) is a 1,5-benzodiazepine, which is known to be effective for treating refractory partial epilepsy. We have evaluated the long-term efficacy and tolerability of CLB as an add-on therapy in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six patients with LGS who had received CLB add-on therapy were enrolled in this study. We retrospectively reviewed their clinical characteristics, including type of seizures, use of CLB, efficacy, adverse events, and retention rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean±SD dose of CLB was 0.70±0.37 mg/kg per day (range, 0.16-1.60 mg/kg per day). After 1 month on CLB, 15 patients (32.6%) became seizure-free and 10 patients (21.7%) had 50% or greater seizure reduction. Response to CLB was not significantly associated with age, sex, or etiology (symptomatic or not). Five (10.8%) of 46 patients maintained seizure remission for more than 12 months. Tolerance developed in 48.0% of initial responders, and the 3-year retention rate by the Kaplan-Meier method was 76.6%. Seven patients (15.2%) reported adverse events, including somnolence and behavioral change, but only one discontinued CLB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clobazam add-on therapy was effective and very tolerable in patients with LGS.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Eun Hye
authors: EH
authors: Lee
authors: Mi-Sun
authors: MS
authors: Yum
authors: Hae-Won
authors: HW
authors: Choi
authors: Tae-Sung
authors: TS
authors: Ko
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000078306:Clobazam; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D065768:Lennox Gastaut Syndrome; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013036:Spasms, Infantile / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000078306:Clobazam