Verapamil and Catamenial Epilepsy

• Status: Withdrawn
• Trial end date: 2010-12-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: Female

Summary

One in 3 epilepsy patients have refractory seizures. This drug resistance is likely related to the over expression of multidrug resistance proteins (MDR). Progesterone is a known inhibitor of MDRs and the low level of this hormone during the menstrual cycle may exacerbate seizures, perhaps explaining catamenial epilepsy; i.e. seizures occurring during the menstrual cycle. Verapamil suppresses seizures in animal models of epilepsy perhaps by inhibiting MDRs and thus may help patients with refractory seizures. If the study shows improved seizure control, the results will help establish the role of MDRs in refractory epilepsy.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University Health Network, Toronto
• Treatments: Verapamil

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• females

• at least 2 seizures per month

• more than 50% of the seizures occur 7 days before or 7 days after the onset of menses

• patient of the Toronto Western Hospital Epilepsy Clinic

Exclusion Criteria:

• cardiovascular history