Drug Refractory Partial Epilepsy, A Therapeutic Trial With Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Study start date: March 1, 1997

Age 5 to 60 at entry to protocol. History of partial or Complex Partial Epilepsy for two or more years. Patients should be on a stable anti-convulsant regimen defined as unchanged medicines and dose modifications lower than 20% in the last month. Blood levels of anti-convulsants will be measured at the beginning of the study, prior to stimulation and after the study to assure that the type and dose of medication will remain constant. Seizures not completely responsive to medical treatment (1 or more seizures per week for at least 6 months) and patients have failed at least two anti-convulsant regimens in the past. The patients have a localized seizure focus. Epilepsy refractory to medical treatments. No pregnant women (will be tested with urine pregnancy test). No severe coronary disease. No metal anywhere in the cranium except the mouth. No intracardiac lines. No increased intracranial pressure as expressed by the presence of papilledema. No cardiac pacemakers. Must not be taking neuroleptic or antidepressant medications. No progressive neurologic disease.