Oxcarbazepine reduces seizure frequency in a high proportion of patients with both newly diagnosed and refractory partial seizures in clinical practice

• Published in: Seizure (London, England) England), 2006-04, Vol.15 (3), p.150-155
• Main Authors: Pauletto, G., Bergonzi, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anticonvulsants - adverse effects; Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use; Carbamazepine - adverse effects; Carbamazepine - analogs & derivatives; Carbamazepine - therapeutic use; Clinical practice; Drug Therapy, Combination; Epilepsies, Partial - drug therapy; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Observational; Oxcarbazepine; Partial epilepsy; Prospective Studies; Seizures; Treatment; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1059-1311; 1532-2688
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2005.12.008

The antiepileptic efficacy and tolerability of oxcarbazepine, used both as monotherapy and adjunctive therapy, were observed for 1 year in 202 adult patients, aged 17–83 years, with newly diagnosed or refractory partial epilepsy in clinical practice in Italy. At first observation, the seizure free rate was 72.2% in newly diagnosed patients given monotherapy, 40% in patients in whom oxcarbazepine replaced another monotherapy and 10.3% in patients given oxcarbazepine as adjunctive therapy. At least 50% reduction in seizure frequency was achieved in 90.7, 72 and 57%, respectively. Efficacy increased with the duration of treatment ( p < 0.0001). In the 160 completers the seizure free rate was 61.3% with monotherapy and 28% with adjunctive therapy. 16.3% of patients reported adverse effects, mainly sedation and sleepiness; 5% discontinued oxcarbazepine because of adverse events. OXC is an effective and well-tolerated antiepileptic agent for the long-term treatment of partial epilepsy in adults.