title: Clinical efficacy of new antiepileptic drugs in refractory partial epilepsy: experience in the United States with three novel drugs.
abstract: A number of new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including topiramate (TPM), felbamate (FBM), and gabapentin (GBP), are approved or believed to be close to approval for marketing in the United States. Key efficacy findings for these AEDs in refractory partial epilepsy were reviewed. Large and significant drug-placebo differences were observed with TPM in two large dose-finding trials conducted in the United States. The minimal effective dose of TPM in the population studied was determined to be approximately 200 mg/day, and doses above 600 mg/day produced good efficacy but little incremental benefit versus the lower dosages for the overall study population. FBM is active in partial epilepsy, although seizure reduction is less marked and drug interactions complicate the findings. GBP is also active in this population, but only the 1,800 mg/day dosage was significantly better than placebo with respect to percent responders. It may be useful to explore higher dosage ranges for both FBM and GBP if they can be well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Neurological Institute, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: French
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000078328:Felbamate; D005632:Fructose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D010919:Placebos; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000077236:Topiramate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000588:Amines; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D010919:Placebos; D011409:Propylene Glycols; D000077236:Topiramate; D005632:Fructose; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin; D000078328:Felbamate