A randomized study of carbamazepine versus no medication after a first unprovoked seizure in childhood

P. Camfield; C. Camfield; J. Dooley; E. Smith; B. Garner

doi:10.1212/wnl.39.6.851

A randomized study of carbamazepine versus no medication after a first unprovoked seizure in childhood

P. Camfield, C. Camfield, J. Dooley, E. Smith, B. Garner

Medicine

Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

85 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We randomized 31 children with a 1st afebrile unprovoked seizure to receive carbamazepine (CBZ) or no medication for 1 year or until the time of a 2nd seizure. All seizures had a focal onset or were generalized tonicclonic. Overall, 2/14 randomized to CBZ and 9/17 with no medication had a recurrent afebrile seizure. Compliance with CBZ was excellent in 12/14, but noncompliance may have contributed to 1 of the recurrences with CBZ. Four discontinued CBZ because of side effects. Two additional children taking CBZ had a febrile seizure. Thus, only 6/14 taking CBZ had a year completely seizure-free with no unacceptable medication side effects. Of those taking no medication, 2 had a febrile recurrence, and 7/17 had a year completely-seizure free. Side effects and febrile recurrences may limit the value of CBZ for some children, although CBZ appears to reduce significantly recurrences after a 1st afebrile seizure.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	851-852
Number of pages	2
Journal	Neurology
Volume	39
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.39.6.851
Publication status	Published - Jun 1989

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Clinical Neurology

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abstract = "We randomized 31 children with a 1st afebrile unprovoked seizure to receive carbamazepine (CBZ) or no medication for 1 year or until the time of a 2nd seizure. All seizures had a focal onset or were generalized tonicclonic. Overall, 2/14 randomized to CBZ and 9/17 with no medication had a recurrent afebrile seizure. Compliance with CBZ was excellent in 12/14, but noncompliance may have contributed to 1 of the recurrences with CBZ. Four discontinued CBZ because of side effects. Two additional children taking CBZ had a febrile seizure. Thus, only 6/14 taking CBZ had a year completely seizure-free with no unacceptable medication side effects. Of those taking no medication, 2 had a febrile recurrence, and 7/17 had a year completely-seizure free. Side effects and febrile recurrences may limit the value of CBZ for some children, although CBZ appears to reduce significantly recurrences after a 1st afebrile seizure.",

author = "P. Camfield and C. Camfield and J. Dooley and E. Smith and B. Garner",

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AU - Camfield, P.

AU - Camfield, C.

AU - Dooley, J.

AU - Smith, E.

AU - Garner, B.

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A randomized study of carbamazepine versus no medication after a first unprovoked seizure in childhood

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