title: Oxcarbazepine reduces seizure frequency in a high proportion of patients with both newly diagnosed and refractory partial seizures in clinical practice.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, DPMSC, University of Udine, Italy. giada.pauletto@libero.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pauletto
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bergonzi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000078330:Oxcarbazepine; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D000078330:Oxcarbazepine