Abstracts

RATIONALE: A review of Gabitril (Tiagabine) use in institutionalized patients was done to determine which patients seemed to benefit from its use as suggested by EEG and MRI findings. With all the choices of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for focal seizures currently available, establishing which patients benefit from which AEDs might be helpful to the practitioner. METHODS: A review of EEGs and MRIs from 46 adult focal seizure patients, who improved on Gabitril, was done to see if a common denominator could be found. AEDs were routinely reviewed for efficacy in USDC seizure patients by the direct care and medical staffs . Those AEDs agreed upon as not being helpful were removed. Doses of Gabitril ranged from 4 mg-48 mg and were based on the patients' weight and response to the drug. RESULTS: EEG results showed that patients with a good response had seizure foci which were extratemporal (Table 1). Eleven follow up EEGs after treatment showed fewer discharges, shorter duration of discharges or decreased spread of the electrical discharge. MRI scans were less helpful (Table 1). Most doses were 24 mg or higher. CONCLUSIONS: Gabitril (Tiagabine) is a very useful adjunctive AED in refractory seizure patients with obvious extratemporal foci on their EEG or suggested by their MRI. Clinical, as well as EEG improvements, were seen in these refractory patients.