For the first time, researchers compared dosing regimens of an antiepileptic drug (AED) used for treatment of partial epilepsy in adults, in conjunction with other AEDs. They looked at dosing used in clinical everyday life (flexible dosing) and that used in classical clinical trials (fixed dose) and discovered that the flexible dosing method was superior. The study is published in Epilepsia, the official journal of the International League Against Epilepsy.

Researchers observed how patients responded to these two methods of dosing therapy over a 12-week period. According to the researchers, while clinical trials have traditionally used fixed doses throughout a treatment period, clinical practice allows for the gradual adjustment of medication dose to enhance patient tolerability and enable optimum effective dosing, based on individual patient response.

Results showed that both regimens were highly effective in reducing seizure frequency in patients who were refractory to treatment. However, "the ability to adjust the dose also permitted the patients to remain on this particular AED (pregabalin) longer since they experienced fewer side-effects and did not drop out of the study (76% for flexible dose versus 58% for fixed dose completed the study)," states lead researcher, Christian Elger. "It also shows that studies copying the clinical picture of epilepsy treatment give more realistic data on the balance between efficacy and tolerability of an antiepileptic drug."

The study demonstrates a significant clinical advantage in treating patients with epilepsy when their dose is adjusted according to the individual patient.

'"/>

Contact: Virginia Pittman
vpittman@bos.blackwellpublishing.com
781-388-8378
Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
27-Dec-2005

Page: 1
Related medicine news :

1. Misdosing common for powerful anti-clotting drugs
2. Study shows new method of growth hormone dosing improves height
3. Adverse outcomes from blood clot therapy may be due to patient characteristics, not dosing errors
4. Bad outcomes related to, but not caused by, misdosing of clotbusters in heart attack patients
5. University of Leicester produces the first-ever world map of happiness
6. Ebola DNA vaccine produces immune responses in all fully vaccinated volunteers in Phase 1 trial
7. Parental conflict produces more than fleeting distress for children
8. Exposure to pesticides in schools produces illnesses among school employees and students
9. Weight-loss surgery produces unexpected drop in heart disease risk, Stanford researchers find
10. Combination vaccine produces lower immune response than vaccines administered separately
11. Young scientists turn to gel to ease side-effects of cancer treatment