Epilepsy research
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
A comparison of pregabalin, lamotrigine, and placebo as adjunctive therapy in patients with refractory partial-onset seizures.
This study assessed the comparative efficacy of pregabalin for refractory partial seizures. ⋯ Pregabalin was demonstrated to be noninferior to lamotrigine in the treatment of refractory partial seizures. Overall conclusions were complicated by an unusually large and heterogeneous placebo response.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Eslicarbazepine acetate as adjunctive therapy in adult patients with partial epilepsy.
To investigate the efficacy and safety of once-daily eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) when used as add-on treatment in adults with > or = 4 partial-onset seizures per 4-week despite treatment with 1 to 3 antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). ⋯ Treatment with once-daily eslicarbazepine acetate 800 mg and 1200 mg was more effective than placebo and generally well tolerated in patients with partial-onset seizures refractory to treatment with 1 to 3 concomitant AEDs.
-
Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Evaluation of carisbamate, a novel antiepileptic drug, in photosensitive patients: an exploratory, placebo-controlled study.
Carisbamate, a novel neuromodulatory agent with antiepileptic properties, was evaluated in patients with photoparoxysmal responses to intermittent photic stimulation (IPS) in this multicenter, non-randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, proof-of-concept study. ⋯ This study shows that carisbamate exhibits dose-related antiepileptic effects in the photosensitivity model. Randomized, controlled studies of carisbamate in epilepsy patients inadequately controlled by their existing AED therapy are warranted.
-
Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Prospective assessment of levetiracetam pharmacokinetics during dose escalation in 4- to 12-year-old children with partial-onset seizures on concomitant carbamazepine or valproate.
To assess the multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of levetiracetam and its major metabolite ucb L057 in children with partial-onset seizures and determine whether it is affected by adjunctive carbamazepine or valproate. To correlate levetiracetam concentrations in plasma and saliva and to assess its safety and clinical response. ⋯ Levetiracetam exhibits simple pharmacokinetics in children, with rapid absorption and dose-proportional kinetics. Small but not clinically relevant differences were observed between subjects receiving carbamazepine and valproate, suggesting significant dose adjustment is usually not necessary. This substantiates prior assessments that levetiracetam clearance is higher in children than adults, necessitating a higher dose in children on a mg/kg basis, and suggests it is useful add-on therapy for children with partial-onset seizures regardless of baseline therapy.
-
Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Open label, long-term, pragmatic study on levetiracetam in the treatment of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.
Patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) may be resistant or show adverse effects to valproate. We present a multicenter, prospective, long-term, open-label study evaluating the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam in JME. ⋯ This open-label study suggests levetiracetam may be effective and well tolerated in resistant cases of JME or may become a reasonable alternative to valproate in newly diagnosed patients.