[Anticonvulsive combined therapy (author's transl)]

19 patients were treated with valproic acid (VPR) in combination with classical anticonvulsants (phenytoin, phenobarbitone, primidone, carbamazepine). Patients with a mean serum concentration of 340 micron moles/l showed a marked improvement as to the frequency of seizures or were even completely free from seizures, provided that the other anticonvulsants were also given in the therapeutic range. Cases showing only a slight reduction in seizure frequency or no improvement had a mean serum level of 229 micron moles/l. This investigation shows that in severe cases of epilepsy treated by combined therapy all given anticonvulsants must reach therapeutic levels to achieve effective control of seizures in most patients.