Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1981-5-21
pubmed:abstractText
Although anticonvulsant polytherapy has been widely and traditionally used in the treatment of epilepsy, there is little evidence of its advantages over monotherapy. It does, however, lead to problems of chronic toxicity, drug interactions, failure to evaluate individual drugs, and sometimes exacerbation of seizures. There are many causes of polytherapy which could be avoided by more careful monitoring and supervision of therapy. Studies in new, previously untreated referrals suggest there is considerable potential for monotherapy. In the event of failure of optimum monotherapy, the value of polytherapy is not yet clear. In chronic patients on polytherapy there may be scope for careful rationalization to two or sometimes one drug, with reduction in chronic toxicity and sometimes improved seizure control. Reduction of therapy, however, may be impossible or hazardous due to withdrawal seizures. Even after successful reduction, seizure control is much less satisfactory than in new referrals. It is easier to avoid polytherapy than to reduce it. There is a need to define more carefully the limits of effective anticonvulsant therapy.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Feb
pubmed:issn
0013-9580
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
22
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1-10
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1981
pubmed:articleTitle
Monotherapy or polytherapy for epilepsy?
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article