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Nicotine as an Antiepileptic Agent in ADNFLE: An N‐of‐One Study
Author(s) -
Willoughby John O.,
Pope Kenneth J.,
Eaton Vaughn
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1046/j.1528-1157.2003.58102.x-i1
Subject(s) - nicotine , placebo , epilepsy , medicine , anesthesia , double blind , psychology , psychiatry , pathology , alternative medicine
Summary: Purpose: To test nicotine patch treatment for a patient with a defined mutation for autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE) whose seizures were refractory to standard antiepileptic therapy. Methods: Open and double‐blind trials of nicotine patches in an “n‐of‐one” study. The double‐blind trial comprised periods during which either placebo or nicotine patches were each used for three periods of 2 weeks, randomized in a double‐blind manner. Results: In an open study, nicotine patches reduced seizures from 1.65 ± 2.36 to 0.01 ± 0.0 seizures per day (p < 0.0001) . In a double‐blinded placebo‐controlled phase, the average frequency of seizures on nicotine versus placebo was 0 ± 0 versus 0.56 ± 1.14 seizures per day (p < 0.0001) . Conclusions: Nicotine patches may be of benefit to some individuals with ADNFLE.