A controlled trial on clonazepam INN (Ro 5-4023, Rivotril (R)) in the treatment of focal epilepsy and secondary generalized grand mal epilepsy

Abstract

In a controlled clinical investigation based on 14 patients with focal seizures and 3 patients with secondary generalized grand mal epilepsy, all with insufficient response to conventional anti-epileptic treatment, clonazepam (Rivotril(R)) combined with previous anti-epileotic drugs was compared with placebo combined with the same drugs. The trial was singleblind cross-over with sequential analyses. With a daily dose, depending upon age, of usually 3-6 mg, the antiepileptic effect of Clonazepam was significantly superior to placebo and was estimated as remarkably good. Side-effects in the form of somnolence, fatique, drowsiness and co-ordination disturbances occurred in most of the patients but subsided spontaneously or could be managed by slow increase or slight reduction in dosage.