CLINICAL EFFICACY OF PIRACETAM IN TREATMENT OF BREATH-HOLDING SPELLS

To evaluate the efficacy of piracetam therapy, 76 children with breath -holding spells admitted to the Outpatient Clinic of Dicle University Medical Faculty Paediatrics Department and Bakurkoy State Hospital, Pa ediatrics Department between 1988 and 1990 and 1991 and 1996, respecti vely, were included in this placebo-controlled trial, Diagnosis of bre ath-holding spells was made for all cases by medical history, pediatri c physical examination, electroencephalogram, and laboratory findings, Placebo or piracetam as suspension was administered to patients on a randomized basis; piracetam was administered to children in suspension 40 mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses for a period of 2 months, Of the 76 c hildren enrolled, 39 received piracetam and 37 received placebo, Overa ll, control of breath-holding spells was observed in 92.3% of the pati ents in the group taking piracetam as compared with 29.7% in the group taking placebo (P < .05), No differences between the 2 groups in adve rse events or side effects were observed, Complete blood count, bioche mical profile, and urine analysis taken before and after treatment rev ealed no change from beginning to end and no difference between the 2 groups, It is suggested that piracetam is a safe and effective drug, w ith an incidence of side effects no different from that of placebo, fo r the treatment of breath-holding spells. (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.