A comparison of the acute effect of single doses of vigabatrin and sodium valproate on photosensitivity in epileptic patients.

The acute effect of oral administration of a single dose of vigabatrin, a new antiepileptic drug which acts by irreversible enzyme-activated inhibition of the brain enzyme, GABA-aminotransferase, on the photoconvulsive response in patients with photosensitive epilepsy, was compared with that of the established antiepileptic drug, sodium valproate. Both drugs significantly suppressed the photoconvulsive response in 3 out of 6 subjects. This result was interpreted as further evidence of vigabatrin's potential value in the future treatment of patients with epilepsy.