ATTIVITA ANTIEPILETTICA ED EFFETTI COLLATERALI DEL BARBEXACLONE

40 subjects (26 M, 16 F) aged between 12 and 60 have been treated with Maliasin R (barbiturate salt of propylhexedrine at ratio 3:2). 15 patients showed generalized seizures (primary generalized in 9 cases), 25 showed partial seizures with elementary or complex symptomatology. All the cases but two were chronically treated with AED. Maliasin R was substituted to PB in 32 cases, and added to the previous therapy in 6 cases. In 16 cases it has been administered in monotherapy; the mean duration of the treatment with Maliasin R was 22.9±18.6 months. No patients worsened, 18 had at least a 50% reduction of the seizure frequency. In two subjects, free of seizures during previous PB treatment, the switch to Maliasin R maintained the control eliminating the side effects (serious drowsiness). During Maliasin R treatment no patient accused drowsiness or sedation, though in 14 out of the 40 cases the relative daily dose of PB was increased in 1:1.2 - 1:2 ratio. Side effects recorded during Maliasin R treatment were usually mild. Only in two patients the treatment to be discontinued owing to the side effects. The plasma levels of PB found during Maliasin R treatment showed a dose/level ratio comparable with the one expected for the administration of simple PB.