Gabapentin as add-on therapy in children with refractory partial seizures:a 24-week, multicentre, open-label study

The efficacy and safety of gabapentin as add-on therapy for refractory part ial seizures in 237 children, aged 3 to 12 years were evaluated over a 6-mo nth period. All children received gabapentin at 24 to 70 mg/kg/day. Efficac y variables included the percent change in seizure frequency and the respon der rate (defined as those patients who showed >50% reduction in seizure fr equency). For all partial seizures, the median percent change in seizure fr equency was -34% and the overall responder rate was 34%. Simple partial sei zures showed a median reduction of -53%; complex partial seizures, 38%; and secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures, -35%. Thirteen patients (5% ) withdrew during the g-month period because of adverse events. Concurrent antiepileptic medication remained unchanged in 185 patients (78%), was decr eased in 27 (11%), and increased in 25 (11%) patients. This 6-month follow- up study has demonstrated that gabapentin was well tolerated and appeared t o show a sustained efficacy in a large population of children with refracto ry partial and secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures.