title: Nonfocal generalized tonic-clonic seizures: response during long-term topiramate treatment. Topiramate YTC/YTCE Study Group.
abstract: A total of 131 adults and children (mean age, 27 years; range, 3-59 years) with generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) of nonfocal origin resistant to other antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) were treated with open-label topiramate (TPM) after completing double-blind placebo-controlled trials.
  
  
  
  The mean duration of open-label TPM treatment was 387 days (range, 14-909 days); the mean TPM dose was 7 mg/kg/day (range, 1-16 mg/kg/day). At the last study visit, the frequency of GTCS was reduced > or =50% from baseline in 63% of patients and by > or =75% in 44%. Among patients treated > or =6 months, 16% were GTCS free > or =6 months despite a pretreatment seizure frequency of one GTCS/week (median). Treatment with TPM was being continued in 82% of patients (n = 107) at the last visit. During treatment periods of up to 2.5 years, 11 (8%) patients discontinued TPM because of adverse events and seven (5%) because of inadequate seizure control.
  
  
  
  TPM therapy was well tolerated, and seizure control was maintained with long-term, open-label therapy in patients with GTCS, leading to prolonged seizure-free intervals in some patients with seizures previously resistant to AED therapy.
authors.affiliation: The Comprehensive Epilepsy Care Center for Children and Adults, St. Louis, Missouri 63017, USA.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Montouris
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Biton
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000188:drug therapy; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005632:Fructose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D010919:Placebos; D000077236:Topiramate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010919:Placebos; D000077236:Topiramate; D005632:Fructose