Response to carbamazepine in children with newly diagnosed partial onset epilepsy.

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to characterize the effectiveness and therapeutic doses of carbamazepine (CBZ) in children with localization-related epilepsy. Treatment to initial CBZ monotherapy and doses associated with 1-year seizure freedom were examined in 100 consecutive children with partial epilepsy. Of the 100 patients studied, 55 became seizure-free on CBZ monotherapy, 10 did not tolerate CBZ within the first 3 months of therapy owing to either hypersensitivity or intolerable side effects, and 35 continued to have seizures. In children age <12, over 95% responded at doses below 17.5 mg/kg/day; in children age >12, over 95% responded at below 15 mg/kg/day. We suggest that other antiepileptic treatments be considered when seizures continue in children taking carbamazepine doses between 15 and 17.5 mg/kg/day even if side effects are absent.