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Nonfocal Generalized Tonic–Clonic Seizures: Response During Long‐Term Topiramate Treatment
Author(s) -
Montouris Georgia D.,
Biton Victor,
Rosenfeld William E.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1157.2000.tb02177.x
Subject(s) - topiramate , medicine , anesthesia , placebo , adverse effect , epilepsy , anticonvulsant , psychiatry , alternative medicine , pathology
Summary: Purpose : 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. Results : 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 50% from baseline in 63% of patients and by 75% in 44%. Among patients treated 6 months, 16% were GTCS free ges;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. Conclusions : 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.