[Preliminary evaluation of Rivotril in epilepsy]

Treatment with Rivotril in doses of 2-10 mg daily was given to 26 patients with various forms of epilepsy, mostly refractory to previous treatment. In 2 cases the drug was withdrawn on account of intolerance, in 4 cases treatment was stopped after several days in view of greatly increased frequency of seizures. In the remaining cases the drug was administered during 2 to 27 months, (mean 7 months) in 3 cases as the only medication and in 17 with other anticonvulsants. The best therapeutic results were obtained in patients with partial seizures of complex symptomatology and in generalized non-convulsive seizures, the worst results in generalized seizures. Electroencephalographic findings included particularly disappearance of seizure activity, while focal changes persisted and even grew worse in some cases. Apart from 2 cases of acute intolerance in another 4 cases side effects were observed with somnolence, dizziness, equilibrium disturbances, and in one case granulocytopenia developed. Allergic changes and liver or renal damage were never observed. The authors suggest introduction of the drug in treatment of epilepsy in view of its favourable clinical effect even in cases refractory to previous treatment, especially since the drug is relatively well tolerated.