TOPIRAMATE - AN EFFICACIOUS NEW ANTIEPILE PTIC DRUG - AN OPEN PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

Topiramate is a new antiepileptic drug, which is not yet marketed in G ermany. The anticonvulsive activity is probably mediated by sodium-cha nnel blockade combined with gabaergic and weak antiglutamtergic proper ties. We investigated 23 patients with partial seizures in this open p rospective study. The efficacy was analysed under stable concurrent an tiepileptic drugs. Two of the patients became seizure free. Ten patien ts had a reduction of seizure frequency of at least 50%. The responder rate was 57%. The maximum daily dosages were 400 to 850 mg. Side-effe cts without relationship to dose were nervousness and aggression. In t wo patients an psychotic episode occurred. Dose-related side-effects w ere ataxia, dizziness, somnolence and dysarthria. This study is underl ining that topiramate is efficacious in the treatment of partial onset seizures but also associated with a narrow therapeutic width.