0116

TOPIRAMATE IN TREATMENT OF CHILDREN WITH EPILEPSY

LIU Z-S, YANG L-Z, WANG F-L

Department of Neurology, Wuhan Children’s Hospital, Wuhan, China

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of topiramate (Topamax) in treatment of children with epilepsy.

Methods: Thirty-one children (M 21, F 10) with epilepsy between the ages of 5 months and 14 years were treated with topiramate. They were divided into 12 cases of monotherapy group and 19 cases of adjunctive therapy group. The target dose of topiramate was 4-10 mg/kg/day for the patients, po, bid. Topiramate was started at the initial doses of 1-2 mg/kg/day and gradually increased to the target doses over a 2-week period. There were more than 12 weeks of stabilization phase. Data were gathered on seizures response and medication related adverse events.

Results: Topiramate resulted in over 50% seizure reduction in 9 (75%) of monotherapy group and in 12 (63%) of adjunctive therapy group, and its total effective rate was 68% in the treatment of children with epilepsy. Incidence of adverse effects was 42%, including hypersomnia, anorexia, weight loss, memory slowing and so on. These were generally transient.

Conclusion: The topiramate is highly effective as monotherapy and as adjunctive therapy, and well tolerated for epilepsy in children.