[Preliminary evaluation of Depakine effects in epilepsy]

Depakine Labaz in doses from 30 to 1200 mg daily was given to 52 patients in an outpatient clinic. In 13% of cases symptoms of drug intolerance developed and the treatment had to be discontinued. In 45 cases treatment was continued. The drug was given usually to patients refractory to previous drugs, with evidence of organic brain disease. The highest degree of clinical improvement was observed in patients with grand mal seizures and seizures without convulsions. The influence of this treatment of partial complex seizures was slightly smaller. The number of patients treated was too small for evaluation of the effects in partial simple seizures. The total proportion of improved patients was about 60%. In EEG curves normalization of background activity was the most frequent findings, without appearance of rapid activity. In some cases manifestation of focal changes was observed. The favourable effect of Depakine on seizure activity manifested itself in later period of treatment and was slight. The drug had a favourable effect on the wellbeing of patients and had no significant toxic effect in the liver or kidneys.