[Depakin 300 and Depakin-chrono in the therapy of epilepsy]

The results of administration of Depakin 300 and Depakin-chrono during 4-year period were analysed in 137 patients aged 14-36 years with idiopathic generalized, cryptogenic, symptomatic partial and nonclassified epilepsy. Depakin was prescribed as basic medicine in idiopathic generalized epilepsy, while in partial and nonclassified epilepsy this drug was more frequently administered in combination with some other anticonvulsants. Early administration of Depakin was highly effective: a remission was observed in 91.2% of the patients during a year. During 3 years a remission was observed in 75.4%, frequency of the fits decreased more than by 50%--in 14.1% of the cases, no response was found in 10.5% of the patients (in cases of gross structural changes of the brain, inefficiency of the preceding therapy during 5 years). Frequency of side-effects was 1.7-12.3%. Indications to treatment are discussed: in addition to generally accepted recommendations (absence, myoclonic primary generalized, tonic-clonic forms of epilepsy, of reading, photosensitive epilepsy), application of Depakin is also recommended in nonclassified epilepsy with generalized epileptic EEG-patterns as well as a drug of choice in all cases of nonclassified fits. Depakin is also quite efficient as an additional drug in cases of partial epilepsy resistant to treatment.