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 effects than carbamazepine (CBZ) there has been a paucity of studies in children. We retrospectively reviewed our results in 46 children (26 female, 20 male) with a mean age of 10.3 years (range: 1.3–17.9 years) with a mean duration of the epilepsy of 7.2 years. The patients previously were treated with 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 derivative 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 reduction 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 OCBZ will be efficient or not. The spectrum of side effects was similar to that 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 epilepsies.

Key words: Oxcarbazepine, Epilepsy, Therapy, Children

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