Oxcarbazepine in treatment of childhood epilepsy: A survey of 46 children and adolescents

Oxcarbazepine (OCBZ) is one of the new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) currently available in several countries. While it is rated as having fewer side eff ects than carbamazepine (CBZ) there has been a paucity of studies in childr en. We retrospectively reviewed our results in 46 children (26 female, 20 m ale) with a mean age of 10.3 years (range: 1.3-17.9 years) with a mean dura tion of the epilepsy of 7.2 years. The patients previously were treated wit h three to 15 (mean 8.2) other AEDs. The mean dose of OCBZ was 56.7 mg/kg/d (range: 19-123 mg/kg/d); the mean blood serum level of monohydroxy derivat ive was 29.9 mg/l. The most common comedication was valproic acid. After 1 year follow-up, OCBZ was beneficial in 50%: one child had a seizure reducti on of 50%-74%, 18 had a reduction of 75%-99%, and four became seizure free. We were not able to identify any relevant parameter as indicator whether O CBZ will be efficient or not. The spectrum of side effects was similar to t hat of CBZ. Despite the severity of the epilepsy in our patients, OCBZ was efficacious and safe and is a helpful advancement in the treatment of epile psies. (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.