Carbamazepine treatment of generalized tonic–clonic seizures in idiopathic generalized epilepsy

PURPOSE Evaluate the efficacy of carbamazepine in the treatment of idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). METHOD The response of five patients with IGE, who experienced primarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures which were refractory to multiple antiepileptic drugs, is reported. RESULTS Carbamazepine controlled multiple seizure types and did not induce or increase the frequency of myoclonic or absence seizures in these patients. Many family members also responded favorably to carbamazepine. CONCLUSION Carbamazepine can be used with caution as an alternative treatment option for refractory IGE, especially in cases in which the main seizure type is generalized tonic-clonic.