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Title: Limited Data Found to Support Clobazam as Epilepsy Treatment: Presented at ANA
URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/22D5DA.htm
Doctor's Guide
September 24, 2008

By Andrew N. Wilner, MD

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- September 24, 2008 -- Clobazam may be an effective antiepileptic drug, but a Cochrane review revealed only 4 low-quality, randomised, double-blind studies to support its use as adjunctive therapy, according to a presentation here at the American Neurological Association (ANA) 133rd Annual Meeting.

For the review, Benedict Michael, MD, Walton Center of Neurology, Liverpool, United Kingdom, and colleagues searched the Cochrane Epilepsy Group Trials Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness, American College of Physician Journals, and BIOSIS.

Their literature search identified 4 randomised studies with a total of 178 patients that supported the use of clobazam for the treatment of epilepsy. There was more evidence for clobazam treatment for partial seizures than for generalised seizures.

The most common adverse effects associated with use of clobazam were drowsiness and dizziness.

These studies suffered from deficiencies such as lack of disclosure of randomisation and blinding methods, lack of matching placebo tablets, no dropout date, lack of baseline seizure frequency, and other limitations, Dr. Michael said in a presentation on September 22.

He recommended a multicentre, parallel-group, randomised clinical trial with a heterogeneous population with epilepsy to determine the effectiveness of clobazam.

"We are looking further into the pharmacogenetics of clobazam to see who responds and who doesn't as part of the [Standard and New Antiepileptic Drugs] II study, which is currently in progress," Dr. Michael concluded.

Clobazam has been used since the 1970s for the treatment of epilepsy, he explained. Clobazam is a 1,5 benzodiazepine, closely related to diazepam, a 1,4 benzodiazepine, he said.


[Presentation title: Cochrane Systematic Review: The Use of Clobazam as Add-on Therapy in Refractory Epilepsy. Abstract M-78

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