Changes in frequency of seizure after acute antiepileptic drugs withdrawal

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 15(3); 1997 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 1997;15(3): 555-562.

항경련제 중단 후 발작의 빈도 변화

김성수, 이예이, 임정근, 이상도, 박영춘

계명대학교 의대 신경과

Changes in frequency of seizure after acute antiepileptic drugs withdrawal

Sung Soo Kim, M.D., Yeigh Lee, M.D., Jeong Geun Lim, M.D., Sang Doe Yi, M.D., Young Choon Park, M.D.

Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Keimyung University

Abstract

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of acute withdrawal of antiepileptic drugs in epileptic patients during continuous BEG monitoring. One hundred sixty-five withdrawals in 134 patients who were candidates for epileptic surgery were included for this study. Clinical features and frequency of seizure were observed after drug withdrawal with daily monitoring of serum drug level. The phases after withdrawal of antiepileptics were divided into phase of therapeutic drug level, phase of falling drug level, and phase of subtherapeutic or undetectable(zero) drug level. There were significant increase in frequency of seizure and seizure of secondary generalization after acute withdrawal of antiepileptic drugs. Number of seizure during the period of drugs withdrawals was not correlated with onset age of epilepsy, duration of epilepsy, duration of medication, and number of administrated antiepiteptic drugs. The number of frequency of seizure before drug withdrawal was correlated with the number of frequency of withdrawal seizure. The number of seizure frequency after carbamazepine withdrawal was significantly higher during the phase of subtherapeutic or zero drug level, and not during phase of rapid falling antiepileptic drug level.