Abstracts

The past 15 years have seen the release of several new antiepileptic medications. The last to be released was pregabalin in September 2005. We reviewed the patients that had been started on pregabalin at The Comprehensive Epilepsy Care Center For Children and Adults, St Louis, Mo from September 2005-May 2006. The patients were evaluated for improvement in sz frequency, as well as for side effects., All patients that were started on pregabalin were included in the analysis. Efficacy and side effect data were recorded as of patients[apos] last clinic/phone contact. Efficacy was evaluated, particularly as to greater than 50% reduction in sz frequency. Patients could be taking any number of other antiepileptic drugs and/or have a vagus nerve stimulator in place., 50 patients were enrolled consecutively in this study. 4 patients withdrew due to side effects -- 1 due to dizziness, 1 due to fatigue, 1 due to hallucinations (patient with previous history of such), and 1 due to reported increased urinary frequency. 2 patients[apos] data were incomplete. 44 patients remained on pregabalin. 23/44 (52%) had greater than 50% reduction in seizures. 7/44 (16%) were seizure free.
Mean dosage of pregabalin was 342 mg/day (range 100mg to 700mg/day). Patients were taking pregabalin on an average of 5.4 months (ranging from 2 to 9 months). Patients were on 2.2 concomitant antiepileptic drugs (ranging from 0 to 4 antiepileptic drugs).
8/48 patients (16.7%) reported dizziness as their most common side effect. This was often transient in the first few days of usage of pregabalin. 6/48 patients (12.5%) reported fatigue. 5/48 patients (10.4%) reported weight gain., Pregabalin appears to be an effective antiepileptic drug in adjuntive therapy. It also appears to be well tolerated. Our findings were fairly consistent with the manufacturer[apos]s labeling for the medication., (Supported by the Comprehensive Epilepsy Care Center For Children And Adults, P.C.)