Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0014547 (focal epilepsy)
 1,627 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A double blind cross over trial of Sodium Valproate (Na VPA) vs Magnesium Valproate (Mg VPA) was performed in 122 patients affected by focal or generalized epilepsies. Only modest differences resulted from the comparison between the two drugs: retention was 8% superior in patients treated with Mg VPA, the number of critic episodes and the quantification of interictal events was significantly lower in patients affected by focal epilepsy treated with Mg VPA. The incidence of side effects was the same for the two drugs.
 ...
PMID:[Comparative study of preparations of sodium and magnesium valproate (VPA) in treatment of patients with epileptic seizures]. 315 Jan 26

Oxcarbazepine (OXC) has been licensed for monotherapy and add-on therapy of focal epilepsy in Germany since February 2000. It is chemically related to carbamazepine, and its anticonvulsant effect has been proven in placebo-controlled double blind studies to be comparable to standard antiepileptic drugs such as carbamazepine, valproate, and phenytoin. Patients whose epilepsy is not well controlled with carbamazepine or in whom side effects occur with carbamazepine can be switched to oxcarbazepine overnight, i.e., without a titration phase. In a retrospective analysis on 51 patients with focal epilepsy, the exchange of carbamazepine with oxcarbazepine was investigated. An exchange in a dosage ratio of 1:1-1:1.5 led to a reduction in seizure frequency by more than 50% in 51% of patients. Oxcarbazepine was better tolerated than carbamazepine. During exchange, CNS toxicity occurred more often with high initial dosages and with an exchange ratio of 1:1.5. In patients pretreated with high dosages of carbamazepine, an exchange ratio of 1:1 and rapid subsequent titration to the maximally tolerated dosage may thus be preferable. In 35% (18/51) of patients treated with oxcarbazepine, hyponatremia developed, which was symptomatic in three patients. Sodium levels should be controlled after exchange and if side effects occur. In conclusion, the overnight switch to oxcarbazepine is an attractive option in patients insufficiently controlled by carbamazepine.
 ...
PMID:[Ad hoc change from carbamazepine to oxcarbazepine--effectiveness and tolerance. A retrospective analysis]. 1178 35