One Daily Dosing of Extended Release Divalproex Sodium in Epilepsy - Effect on Seizure Control
Abstract number :
3.162
Submission category :
Year :
2001
Submission ID :
2752
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/1/2001 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 1, 2001, 06:00 AM
Authors :
M.P. Macken, MD, Center for Neurology, Crystal Lake, IL
RATIONALE: An extended release formulation of divalproex sodium ( Depakote ER - Abbott Laboratories)has recently become available for migraine prophylaxis. The serum concentrations achieved with once daily dosing are similar to those achieved with more frequent dosing of standard divalproex sodium preparations. Given the maintenance of theraputic concentrations of divalproex sodium with once daily dosing, seizure control should be maintained in a population of epileptic patients whose seizures were previously controlled with more frequent dosing regimes.
METHODS: The population studied was a cohort of patients with primary generalized epilepsy, all of whom had been seizure free for the previous six months on divalproex sodium monotherapy, using twice or three times daily dosing regimes. Subjects were switched to a once daily dosing schedule using equivalent doses of extended release divalproex sodium.
RESULTS: All patients maintained seizure freedom for a follow-up period of six months.
CONCLUSIONS: Use of once daily extended release divalproex sodium in primary generalized epilepsy is not associated with any decrement in seizure control.