HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Correspondence: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wilder, B. J. Articles by Hammond, E. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Wilder, B. J. Articles by Hammond, E. J.

Comparison of valproic acid and phenytoin in newly diagnosed tonic-clonic seizures

Neurology and Medical Research Service, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Department of Neurology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL (Drs. Wilder, Karas, and Hammond); Neurology and Medical Research Service, Veterans Administration Medical Center and University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL (Dr. Ramsay); and Milwaukee Pediatric Neurology, Milwaukee, WI (Dr. Murphy and Ms. Marquardt).

Sixty-one newly diagnosed epileptic patients with generalized tonic-clonic, clonic, or tonic seizures were randomly allocated to treatment with valproate (VPA) and phenytoin (PHT). After 6 months, both drugs had been effective in preventing recurrence of seizures. Seventy-three percent of patients receiving VPA and 47% of patients receiving PHT had no recurrences. Side effects of either drug were mild. Laboratory abnormalities were similar for both drugs. Except for one PHT patient with toxic hepatitis, therapy was not discontinued.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Wilder, Chief, Neurology Service (127). Veterans Administration Medical Center, Gainesville, FL 32602.

This work was supported by the Medical Research Service of the Veterans Administration, the Epilepsy Research Foundation of Florida, Inc., and the Southern Foundation for Brain Research.

Accepted for publication March 2, 1983

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A Nicolson, R E Appleton, D W Chadwick, and D F Smith The relationship between treatment with valproate, lamotrigine, and topiramate and the prognosis of the idiopathic generalised epilepsies J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, January 1, 2004; 75(1): 75 - 79. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. W. Wheless Use of Topiramate in Childhood Generalized Seizure Disorders J Child Neurol, December 1, 2000; 15(1_suppl): S7 - S13. [Abstract] [PDF]