title: Carbamazepine treatment of generalized tonic-clonic seizures in idiopathic generalized epilepsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the efficacy of carbamazepine in the treatment of idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE).
  
  
  METHODS
  The response of five patients with IGE, who experienced primarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures which were refractory to multiple antiepileptic drugs, is reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Carbamazepine controlled multiple seizure types and did not induce or increase the frequency of myoclonic or absence seizures in these patients. Many family members also responded favorably to carbamazepine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Carbamazepine can be used with caution as an alternative treatment option for refractory IGE, especially in cases in which the main seizure type is generalized tonic-clonic.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States; Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 901 Walnut Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States.
authors.forename: Katharine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kenyon
authors.affiliation: Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 901 Walnut Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mintzer
authors.affiliation: Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 901 Walnut Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States. Electronic address: Maromi.Nei@jefferson.edu.
authors.forename: Maromi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine
keywords: Carbamazepine; Generalized tonic–clonic seizure; Idiopathic generalized epilepsy; Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy; Refractory epilepsy