The effect of topiramate on the treatment of epilepsy

Objective To assess the clinical efficacy and safety of topiramate in adult and children patients with epilepsy. Methods Open-label experience with topiramate as adjunctive, added-on to monotherapy and monotherapy were analyzed.The efficacy was assessed by comparing the average frequency per month for 3 months after topiramate added to the maintenance period of the baseline therapy. Results Topiramate was proven to be a valuable new antiepileptic drug either in monotherapy (86%) or in added-on therapy (70%) on partial onset epilepsy, West syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and showed no tolerance.The topiramate dosage in patients with monotherapy [(85.87±29.19)mg/d in adult] is lower than in those using added-on therapy [(161.11±58.18)mg/d] significantly, and the most common adverse events were CNS-related, but few patients had discontinued the therapy.Conclusions The topiramate used for monotherapy or added-on therapy should be regarded as an effective and widespread antiepileptic drug, without tolerance and severe adverse actions.