Verapamil and Catamenial Epilepsy

University Health Network, Toronto

Status: Withdrawn

Conditions: Catamenial Epilepsy

Treatments: Drug: verapamil hyrochloride

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00559169

UHN-TWH-VER-001

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Enrollment: 12 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

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