Seizure activity and anticonvulsant drug concentration.

Current methods permit frequent, accurate serum anticonvulsant drug concentration measurements and continuous, 24-hour electroencephalographic recording with minimal environmental restriction. These techniques were used to perform longitudinal, 24-hour recordings of electroencephalographic paroxysmal activity and sleep-wake state concurrently with frequent measurements of serum anticonvulsant drug concentrations in two patients with poorly controlled convulsions. Drug administration was designed with the intent of producing high serum concentrations at times of maximum electroencephalographic paroxysmal activity. The suppression of clinical seizures coincided with decreased numbers of paroxysmal bursts in the electroencephalogram and increased serum anticonvulsant drug concentration.