Reducing AEDs with VNS
Reducing the number of anti-seizure medications (AEDs) used in combination with Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy™ (VNS Therapy) does not cause a "rebound" increase in seizure rates, according to a study presented at the 54th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in Denver, Colorado.
"To successfully manage epilepsy, we try to maximise seizure control, while minimising side effects," says study investigator Douglas Labar, MD, director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York. "Although most patients who use VNS Therapy also require medication, this study demonstrates that the number [of AEDs] patients take can likely be reduced without jeopardising that balance".
This retrospective study analyzed the types and number of medications 1407 VNS Therapy patients were using when first beginning treatment and then again 1 year later. The patients were split into 2 primary groups: 896 whose medications were reduced or remained unchanged after 1 year and 511 whose medications were increased or switched during that period. There were no significant differences in seizure rate changes between the groups.
The study also examined how the addition of specific medications affected seizure rate reductions and found that decreases in seizure frequency were relatively parallel across several medications.
Sources
American Academy of Neurology
http://aan.com
Cyberonics, Inc.
http://www.cyberonics.com
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