Ethosuximide, one of the oldest available anti-seizure medications, is the most effective treatment for childhood absence epilepsy, claim the doctors at OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital.

Three medications, typically used to treat the most common childhood epilepsy syndrome, childhood absence epilepsy, which is characterized by frequent non-convulsive seizures that cause the child to stop what he or she is doing and stare for up to 30 seconds at time, were compared by the study group to come up with the conclusion.

There was no definitive evidence on which drug worked best prior to this study.

Colin Roberts, M. D., OHSU Doernbecher''s principal investigator for the study, assistant professor of pediatrics and neurology, and director of OHSU Doernbecher''s Pediatric Epilepsy Program, explained," Much of our scientific understanding of childhood epilepsy care today comes from historical experience or studies involving adult patients with related, but not identical, conditions. This study is an important milestone in our understanding of childhood absence epilepsy. Never before have we been able to document in such a comprehensive, scientific fashion the best options to treat children with this condition."

453 children newly diagnosed with childhood absence epilepsy from July 2004 to October 2007 were enrolled by the study group. Study participants were randomly assigned to ethosuximide, valproic acid or lamotrigine.

The researchers found after 16 weeks of therapy that Ethosuximide and valproic acid were significantly more effective than lamotrigine in controlling seizures, with no intolerable side effects. It was also determined by them that ethosuximide was associated with significantly fewer negative effects on attention. (With Inputs from Agencies)