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Published on: July 8, 2025

Nitrazepam for the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome

Syed A Hosain1, Novette S Green, Gail E Solomon

  • 1Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA.

Pediatric Neurology
|March 27, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Nitrazepam effectively reduced seizure rates in children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a severe epilepsy. This study found a 41% median seizure reduction over 12 months, with significant improvement in most patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Epileptology
  • Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

  • Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is a severe childhood epilepsy characterized by intractable seizures and cognitive impairment.
  • Current treatments, including antiepileptic drugs and non-pharmacologic interventions, offer limited efficacy.
  • Medication-resistant cases necessitate exploration of alternative therapeutic options.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nitrazepam in children with medication-resistant Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
  • To assess seizure rate reduction over a 12-month treatment period.
  • To document adverse effects associated with nitrazepam therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 14 children (11 months-8 years) with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
  • Open-label compassionate use of nitrazepam.
  • Comparison of 1-month baseline seizure frequency with seizure rates during 12 months of nitrazepam treatment.

Main Results:

  • Median seizure rate reduction of 41% (P = 0.001) over 12 months.
  • 60% of patients achieved more than 50% seizure reduction.
  • Two patients became seizure-free; no serious adverse effects were reported, though sedation and drooling were observed.

Conclusions:

  • Nitrazepam demonstrates significant efficacy in reducing seizure frequency in children with medication-resistant Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
  • The drug is generally well-tolerated, with manageable side effects.
  • Nitrazepam represents a viable treatment option for this challenging epilepsy syndrome.

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