EFFICACY AND TOLERABILITY OF TIAGABINE - RESULTS OF AN ADD-ON STUDY IN PATIENTS WITH REFRACTORY PARTIAL SEIZURES

Tiagabine (TGB) is a new antiepileptic drug (AED) acting as a specific inhibitor of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) uptake into glial and neuronal cells. We report a clinical trial of TGB in 17 patients with intractable focal seizures. The results are part of a multinational, multicenter study. TGB 12-64 mg/day was added to the current AED regimen, which did not exceed three concomitant AEDs. Daily dosages of TGB 26-36 mg/day decreased seizure frequency by >50% in 33% of patients; daily dosages of 38-64 mg had this effect in approximately half of the treated patients. Adverse events (AE) occurred in 15 patients and were usually mild and transient; however, 4 patients withdrew from the study prematurely because of intolerable side effects.