EFFICACY OF FELBAMATE IN THERAPY FOR PARTIAL EPILEPSY IN CHILDREN

Thirty children (2 to 17 years of age) with refractory partial seizure s received open-label felbamate as an add-on medication to their backg round antiepileptic drugs. The dose was increased up to a maximum of 4 5 mg/kg. Compared with baseline seizure activity, there was a 53% decr ease in seizure frequency during felbamate therapy; 50% of the patient s had more than a 50% decrease in seizure frequency. Patients older th an 10 years of age were more likely to have a favorable response. Age correlated positively with felbamate concentrations and negatively wit h apparent felbamate clearance. Transient weight loss occurred in 57% of the patients; the weight loss was maximal after 12 weeks of initiat ion of felbamate, and subsided after the twentieth week of treatment. Anorexia and insomnia were reported in 20% and 16% of the patients, re spectively. Adverse effects were generally tolerable; felbamate therap y was discontinued because of side effects in only one patient, becaus e of a tosh. We conclude that felbamate can be a useful and well-toler ated medication in the treatment of refractory partial epilepsy in chi ldren. However, increased apparent clearance of this drug in younger c hildren should be considered in treatment of this age group.