Adjunctive oral electrolyte therapy for uncontrolled seizures in children

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Ochoa, Juan G. | Gonzalez, Walter

Affiliations: Neuroscience Institute at Shands Jacksonville, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL, USA

Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Juan G. Ochoa, M.D., 580 West 8th Street, Tower I, 9th Floor, Jacksonville, 32209 FL, USA. Tel.: +1 904 244 9843; Fax: +1 904 2449493; E-mail: juan.ochoa@jax.ufl.edu

Abstract: Experimental studies in animals have suggested that alteration of extracellular volume, ion concentration and osmolarity may affect the epileptic process. We report persistent beneficial effects of add-on oral electrolyte therapy (OET) in seven children with uncontrolled epilepsy. Three patients treated with OET remained seizure free, one patient became free of absence seizures but persisted with generalized convulsions and two other patients had improved seizure control. One patient did not improve and discontinued treatment after 3 weeks. No significant side effects or complications were observed. Rice-based OET, used alone or in addition to standard antiepileptic drugs, may provide a therapeutic effect in children with uncontrolled epilepsy. Larger controlled studies are needed to validate this finding.

Keywords: Uncontrolled seizures, oral electrolyte therapy

Journal: Journal of Pediatric Neurology, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 317-323, 2008