, most epilepsies are either predominantly focal or predominantly generalized. It is useful to maintain this distinction (even if somewhat artificial) because focal epilepsies can be treated with epilepsy surgery, and all focal epilepsies tend to respond to the same type of anticonvulsants. Generalized epilepsies cannot be treated surgically and respond to different anticonvulsantsdepending
Drug-metabolizing capacity in states of drug dependence and withdrawal 1. Drug-metabolizing capacity was assessed in 8 barbiturate-dependent and in 3 Mandrax-dependent patients using, as indices, plasma antipyrine half-life and in some cases urinary output of 6beta-hydroxycortisol. For comparison, antipyrine half-life was also measured in volunteers before and after a period of taking hypnotic
What is barbituratedependence and who is at risk? The dependence on drugs today, particularly by young people, must concern many - doctors and nurses, social workers, lawyers and the police, and parents. The writers of the group of papers which follow, although inevitably overlapping in some respects, attempt to examine the questions raised from the particular point of view of each. When does taking a drug (generally a barbiturate) become a state of dependence is the question posed and answered by Dr Connell. He begins by setting out the series of offical definitions of addiction, habituation and dependence formulated by the World Health Organization and in Britain by the Interdepartmental Committee (the Brain Committee). With these definitions as a framework he examines barbiturate
The moral choice in prescribing barbiturates. Dr Wells, a general practitioner, looks at the problem of barbituratedependence from the point of view of the prescribing doctor who has to choose for his patients - of all ages - the drug, usually a hypnotic, which is sought for insomnia or states of anxiety and stress. He argues that it is wise to prescribe non-barbiturates, but that even
Some endocrinological aspects of barbituratedependence 1. Hypophysectomized rats become dependent on barbitone and show the same withdrawal syndrome as intact animals.2. Barbitone dependent rats have larger thyroid and adrenal glands, a larger liver, smaller gonads and larger secondary sex organs than untreated animals. The levator ani muscle of the males is smaller.3. In contrast, dependent
-dependent and barbiturate-dependent patients were the fastest metabolizers studied. It is concluded that drug interactions resulting from interference with drug metabolism are as likely to occur with Mandrax as with barbiturates. On the other hand, it is unlikely that such drug interactions would occur with nitrazepam.