Tiagabine: new preparation. Refractory partial epilepsy: another alternative

(1) Tiagabine combination therapy has been assessed in quality clinical trials. (2) In patients with partial epilepsy placebo-controlled trials have shown that, in combination with an antiepileptic treatment considered ineffective, tiagabine reduces the frequency of seizures by at least 50% in approximately a quarter of patients. (3) Its efficacy does not appear to be superior to that of viga batrin, gabapentin, lamotrigine or progabide, but there have been no direct comparisons between tiagabine and these other antiepileptic drugs. (4) The main adverse effects of tiagabine are neuropsychological. No serious adverse effects have been described. (5) Tiagabine is not an enzyme inducer but efficacy can be reduced if it is combined with enzyme-inducing antiepileptics. (6) Tiagabine therapy cannot be monitored using plasma drug levels.