Comparative efficacy and safety of oxcarbazepine versus divalproex sodium in the treatment of acute mania: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared the efficacy and safety of oxcarbazepine and divalproex sodium in acute mania patients.


METHODS
In this 12 week, randomized, double-blind pilot study, 60 patients diagnosed with acute mania (DSM-IV) and a baseline Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) score of 20 or more received flexibly dosed oxcarbazepine (1,000-2,400 mg/day) or divalproex (750-2,000 mg/day). The mean decrease in the YMRS score from baseline was used as the main outcome measure of response to treatment. A priori protocol-defined threshold scores were <or=12 for remission and >or=15 for relapse. Number of patients showing adequate response and the time taken to achieve improvement was compared. Adverse events were systematically recorded throughout the study.


RESULTS
Over 12 weeks, mean improvement in YMRS scores was comparable for both the groups including the mean total scores as well as percentage fall from baseline. There were no significant differences between treatments in the rates of symptomatic mania remission (90% in divalproex and 80% in oxcarbazepine group) and subsequent relapse. Median time taken to symptomatic remission was 56 days in divalproex group while it was 70 days in the oxcarbazepine group (p=0.123). A significantly greater number of patients in divalproex group experienced one or more adverse drug events as compared to patients in the oxcarbazepine group (66.7% versus 30%, p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Oxcarbazepine demonstrated comparable efficacy to divalproex sodium in the management of acute mania. Also the overall adverse event profile was found to be superior for oxcarbazepine.
Kakkar
Ashish Kumar
AK
Department of Pharmacology, Lady Hardinge Medical College and SSK Hospital, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001, India.
Rehan
H S
HS
Unni
K E S
KE
Gupta
Neeraj Kumar
NK
Chopra
Deepti
D
Kataria
Dinesh
D