The Rise and Fall of Borax as an Antiepileptic Drug

Five hundred eighty-six patients with epilepsy were treated with borax (hydrated sodium tetraborate) between 1912 and 1948 at the Kolonien Filadelfia Epilepsy Hospital, Dianalund, Denmark. A rough estimation shows that less than 5% experienced a more than 50% reduction in the total number of seizure...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inArchives of neurology (Chicago) Vol. 63; no. 4; pp. 621 - 622
Main Author Jensen, John P. A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Chicago, IL American Medical Association 01.04.2006
Subjects
Anticonvulsants - history
Anticonvulsants. Antiepileptics. Antiparkinson agents
Bacillus
Biological and medical sciences
Borates - therapeutic use
Convulsions & seizures
Denmark
Disinfection & disinfectants
Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment
Epilepsy
Epilepsy - drug therapy
Epilepsy - history
History, 19th Century
History, 20th Century
Hospitals
Humans
Inhibitor drugs
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous (drug allergy, mutagens, teratogens...)
Neurology
Neuropharmacology
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Denmark
Nervous system diseases
Anticonvulsant
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Summary:Five hundred eighty-six patients with epilepsy were treated with borax (hydrated sodium tetraborate) between 1912 and 1948 at the Kolonien Filadelfia Epilepsy Hospital, Dianalund, Denmark. A rough estimation shows that less than 5% experienced a more than 50% reduction in the total number of seizures. Charts were reviewed to find a connection between the concept of Bacillus epilepticus (1916) and the so-called renaissance of borax treatment described in 1923, and to find an explanation for the popularity of this seemingly ineffective antiepileptic drug.Arch Neurol. 2006;63:621-622 -->
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ISSN:0003-9942
2168-6149
1538-3687
2168-6157
DOI:10.1001/archneur.63.4.621