Potassium Bromide: The First Successful Treatment of Epilepsy (P4.9-043)

Objective: To examine the origin of potassium bromide as one of the first successful treatments of epilepsy. Background: Potassium bromide was a common treatment for epilepsy in the 19th century and still currently used in veterinary medicine to treat animals with epilepsy. Design/Methods: Literature review through historical archives, Pubmed, and the original publications of Charles Locock, Sir Samuel Wilks, Sir William Gowers, and Alden Turner. Results: The discovery of potassium bromide as an epileptic can be attributed to Sir Charles Locock, an obstetrician who believed that epilepsy can be caused by excess masturbation and was associated with menstrual periods. Sir Locock had taken potassium bromide himself, and after realizing that it had caused impotency, used it to successfully stop epileptic seizures on 14 out of 15 of his patients and published his findings in the Lancet. The use of potassium bromide was then popularized by Sir Samuel Wilkins and later by Sir William Gowers. Through observations and statistical analysis, Sir Gowers discovered that bromide does not cure epilepsy but only causes relapse of symptoms, needs titrating so dosages remain below a toxic level, and should never be abruptly discontinued. Later, his discoveries of qualities of bromide will serve as the foundation for future epilepsy therapies. Conclusions: Despite having limited anticonvulsant effects and many toxicities, bromide was one of the few efficacious treatments for epilepsy in the 19th century. The study of bromide by Sir Gowers served as the foundation for future epilepsy treatments. Disclosure: Dr. Peng has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sato has nothing to disclose.