Clobazam for treatment of intractable epilepsy: a critical assessment

Clobazam (CLB), a 1,5-benzodiazepine, is a remarkably effective add-on drug for individual patients with refractory partial epilepsy. CLB has an excellent safety record. As with all benzodiazepines used for treating epilepsy, sedation and withdrawal effects, together with the development of tolerance, limit its usefulness. Recent efforts to prevent or reverse tolerance with intermittent administration of CLB or periodic injection of a benzodiazepine antagonist, flumazenil, are encouraging and justify further investigations.