TRIDIONE IN THE TREATMENT OF EPILEPSY

Abstract

A year ago I presented evidence 1 for the belief that pyknoepilepsy, myoclonic jerks and akinetic seizures are members of a petit mal triad, best treated by a new medicine, 3,5,5-trimethyloxazolidine-2,4-dione (Tridione). I am now able to report the results of medication in 166 patients having a petit mal type of seizure and also the results in 93 patients having psychomotor or grand mal seizures. These latter observations are timely because of reports that Tridione is an anticonvulsant, a contention which my own clinical observations do not support. First I emphasize that the term petit mal is not used for short lived or mild seizures of any sort but is confined to three clinically distinct manifestations; first, petit mal (or pyknoepilepsy) transient but frequent lapses of consciousness; second, myoclonic jerks, and third, akinetic (loss of posture) seizures. All three seizures are usually accompanied by the alternating spike and slow wave