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DIAMOX ACETAZOLAMIDE IN TREATMENT OF THE EPILEPTICS WITH FREQUENT SEIZURES OR STATUS EPILEPTICUS
Author(s) -
Wada Toyoji,
Takase Michihiro,
Fukushima Yutaka
Publication year - 1961
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1819.1961.tb00638.x
Subject(s) - status epilepticus , acetazolamide , medicine , anesthesia , epilepsy , pediatrics , psychiatry
Summary Diamox was given to a series of epileptic patients, the majority of whom was 10 years of age or younger. At the start of administration of Diamox, all had frequent seizures and never less than one seizure daily. The following clinical results were obtained: 1) Diamox proved effective in 67 % of the cases. This figure includes complete freedom from seizures in 33%, in a short‐term study. Diamox was ineffective in about one third of the patients. Patients with convulsive seizures responded better than those with myoclonic attacks although in the cases the effect varied greatly. 2) In cases of frequent seizures, especially status epilepticus, the administration of Diamox resulted in marked decrease in frequency, including complete freedom from attacks, in approximately two‐thirds of the patients treated, in addition to transient effects observed as the result of short‐term therapy. 3) The effect of Diamox was occasionally dramatic in relieving the emergency due to so frequent seizures or status epilepticus when it was administered for at least 7˜10 days as conservative treatment for transient relief. This type of therapy with Diamox is therefore suggested whenever it is indicated. 4) Diamox should be administered orally, including intragastric insertion, in small divided doses at frequent intervals. Patients with a pattern of frequent seizures will begin to show improvement within a few to 24 hours after the initiation of treatment. 5) In clinical EEG investigation, no clear‐cut conclusion possible to explain an effective indication was obtained, though the cases with dysrhythmic slow basic activity showed relatively effective results. We are indebted to Cyanamid International for supplies of Diamox and for the support given for this investigation.