Clorazepate Dipotassium in the Treatment of Intractable Epilepsy

Abstract

Clorazepate dipotassium was given to 59 patients whose epileptic seizures were intractable to treatment with standard antiepileptic drugs. On absorption, clorazepate dipotassium is rapidly decarboxylated to yield<i>N</i>-desmethyl diazepam, a normally occurring metabolite of diazepam. Excellent results were obtained in 20 patients, principally those with generalized minor attacks. Six of these had previously failed to respond to diazepam. No benefit was seen in 14 patients with typical psychomotor attacks. The results suggest that clorazepate dipotassium is a useful addition to the treatment of intractable minor seizures. (<i>JAMA</i>229:552-555, 1974)