Prophylaxis with Diphenylhydantoin and Phenobarbital in Alumina‐Gel Monkey Model

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
This study, a 4 mo. follow-up period of a 12 mo. treatment study was concerned with the permanent effects of treatment with diphenylhydantoin [DPH] and phenobarbital in the alumina-gel rhesus monkey model. Whereas the 8 drug animals during withdrawal increased their seizure frequency, duration and severity, those 4 animals having received 120 mg/kg per day DPH in wk 6-12 had 1/2 the number of seizures of the 4 placebo monkeys in the follow-up period. The other 4 drug animals who had continued to receive 60 mg/kg per day DPH during those wk had 2-4 times the number of seizures of the placebo group during posttreatment. (All drug monkeys received 80 mg/kg per day of DPH from wk 13-52 and 6 mg/kg per day of phenobarbital throughout the 12 mo. treatment period.) The problems of drug withdrawal and the importance of altering seizure mechanisms with sufficiently high doses of efficacious anticonvulsants rather than merely treating epileptic manifestations at lower doses are reaffirmed.