Doctors have studied patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome aged 4 to 30 years to find out how well Inovelon controls seizures when added to other seizure medicines. Patients in this study had 90 or more seizures in the month before beginning Inovelon, including drop seizures, tonic-clonic seizures and atypical absence seizures. Some patients received Inovelon and others received placebo. The patients who received Inovelon had a 33% reduction in total numbers of seizures compared to before they took Inovelon, while the patients who took placebo had a 12% reduction. The reduction of tonic-clonic seizures in patients who received Inovelon was 43%.

Two other studies showed the effectiveness of Inovelon in controlling partial seizures when added to other seizure medicines in adolescents and adults. Doses of 400 mg/day and higher, up to 3200 mg/day, were effective. In one of these studies, patients who received Inovelon had a 20% reduction in partial seizures compared to before they took Inovelon, while the patients who took placebo had a 2% increase.

These promising results are not always matched in everyday life. Sometimes patients don't take all their medicine on time, or the individual's seizures cannot be controlled at a dose of Inovelon that can be taken without side effects. Because of individual differences, there is no "best" amount for everyone. Adjustments are often needed to reduce seizures or side effects.

If seizures continue to occur, the doctor first may suggest a change in the dosage of Inovelon. If that doesn’t work, the next step may be discontinue Inovelon or to add another seizure medicine. There is no best “combination” of seizure medicines.

Reviewed by Steven C. Schachter, MD
Submitted: 05/16/07