title: Topiramate and temporal lobe epilepsy: an open-label study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of topiramate (TPM) as monotherapy for patients with temporal lobe epileptic seizures based on an observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 41 patients (20 female, mean age 54+18 years) with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) referred to the Epilepsy Unit, University of Catanzaro, Italy. Patients received TPM as monotherapy directly or after having taken other antiepileptic drugs. Seizure frequency changes and adverse events were recorded. Follow-up was conducted for a period of at least two years after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients received TPM, 50-600 mg/day, de novo (n=29) or initially as add-on therapy before the switch (n=12). In total, 28 of 41 patients achieved seizure freedom, whereas 10 showed a ≥ 50% reduction of seizure frequency. Two patients did not respond well and one patient discontinued TPM due to adverse effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results confirm that TPM as either monotherapy or add-on therapy at doses of 50-600 mg/day effectively reduces seizure frequency in TLE. TPM is particular effective and very well tolerated in patients with mild TLE.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, University Magna Græcia, Catanzaro, Italy. labate@unicz.it
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Labate
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siniscalchi
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mumoli
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Aguglia
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quattrone
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gambardella
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000150:complications; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005632:Fructose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology; D000077236:Topiramate
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077236:Topiramate; D005632:Fructose