A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF DAYTIME SLEEPINESS INDUCED BY CARBAMAZEPINE AND ADD-ON VIGABATRIN IN EPILEPTIC PATIENTS

Introduction - The clinical relevance of daytime sleepiness associated with carbamazepine (CBZ) and vigabatrin (VGB) was objectively assesse d by the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) and nocturnal sleep record ings. Material and methods - Twenty-six patients with partial epilepsy and mean monthly seizure frequency of 4, aged 18 to 48 years, receivi ng chronic monotherapy with CBZ and subsequent VGB addition for 2 mont hs (14 patients), were compared with a group of healthy subjects. Subj ective daytime sleepiness was complained by 13 patients on CBZ monothe rapy and 9 patients during VGB add-on treatment. Results - No differen ces in nocturnal sleep parameters, but significantly shorter daytime s leep latencies at the MSLT, were detected in CBZ-treated patients as c ompared with healthy controls. Addition of VGB therapy did not further enhance objective daytime sleepiness. Conclusion - Some sleepiness oc curs in chronically CBZ-treated epileptic patients, which can be objec tively measured by the MSLT, but it is not aggravated by add-on VGB.