D. Haigh, W. Forsythe
Dec 1, 1975
Citations
0
Influential Citations
46
Citations
Journal
Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology
Abstract
Sodium valproate was used in the treatment of 32 children with epilepsy, 30 of whom had failed to respond to other anticonvulsants. Of nine patients with petit mal and four with petit mal and grand mal, 10 obtained complete control of their petit mal. Of 11 patients with grand mal, four showed a greater than 90 per cent reduction of tits. None of the eight patients with temporal lobe or myoclonic epilepsy was improved. The only side‐effect observed on sodium valproate was temporary hair loss in one patient. However, the drug was seen to potentiate the side‐effects of other drugs, viz. bromide, primidone, phenytoin. 13 patients received more than the previously recommended maximum dose of 1·4g a day, without side‐effects. The use of serum levels was of little help, possibly because of the short half‐life of the drug.