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Valproate in the Treatment of Partial Epilepsies
Author(s) -
Chadwick David
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1994.tb05980.x
Subject(s) - carbamazepine , randomized controlled trial , medicine , anticonvulsant , partial seizures , pediatrics , partial epilepsy , valproic acid , epilepsy , psychiatry
Summary: Review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) shows that valproate (VPA) is effective against partial seizures with or without becoming secondarily generalized. A number of RCTs show little difference in the efficacy of VPA and carbamazepine in this patient group, particularly where patients are randomized at the time of diagnosis. The length of time that it has taken to arrive at these conclusions emphasizes the importance of large active‐controlled RCTs at an early stage in drug development in informing clinical practice.