Clonazepam: its efficacy in association with phenytoin and phenobarbital in mental patients with generalized major motor seizures

Abstract

In a 36-week controlled study, the efficacy of clonazepam administered with phenytoin and phenobarbital was evaluated in twenty-four epileptic mental patients suffering from major motor seizures. The patients were distributed in two strata according to the presence or the absence of chlorpromazine. As compared with placebo treatment in the chlorpromazine-free patients, a significant reduction in the frequency of the tonic-clonic seizures was observed during the 24-week clonazepam treatment. This effect could not be observed in the patients requiring the antipsychotic drug. The EEG performed before and at the end of the experimental period did not show any significant change. The most common adverse reactions to clonazepam were drowsiness and ataxia; they diminished with continued treatment.