title: A comparison of the efficacy and tolerability of controlled-release carbamazepine with conventional carbamazepine.
abstract: We compared the efficacy and tolerability of controlled-release carbamazepine (CBZ-CR) with conventional carbamazepine (CBZ) in 131 epileptic patients (both men and women, ages 6-65 years) in an open, multicentre, cross-over trial. Patients entered into the trial were previously on CBZ monotherapy or polytherapy. During the first 4 weeks, patients were treated with equivalent daily doses of CBZ and then switched to CBZ-CR for the subsequent 4 weeks. The majority of patients were switched to the more convenient b.i.d. dosing schedule of the controlled-release (CR) preparation without a detrimental effect on seizure frequency or adverse effects. In 44/131 (34%) of patients, the switch to CBZ-CR was accompanied by an improvement in tolerability, primarily due to a reduction in peak-dependent CNS side-effects such as tiredness, double or blurred vision, dizziness and ataxia. At the end of the study, investigators preferred CBZ-CR for 76% of their patients and 70% of the patients preferred CBZ-CR.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Wellesley Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dhalla
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bruni
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sutton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001259:Ataxia / Q000139:chemically induced; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004244:Dizziness / Q000139:chemically induced; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D002220:Carbamazepine