Gabapentin in childhood epilepsy : a prospective evaluation of efficacy and safety

Abstract Purpose : To evaluate the efficacy and safety of gabapentin (GBP) in partial epilepsy in children. Methods : We performed a prospective open label add-on study in 52 children and adolescents (age 1.8–17.5 years, mean 11.1 years) with refractory partial seizures. Gabapentin was added to one other baseline drug and the efficacy was rated according to seizure type and frequency. Results : The GBP dose ranged from 26 to 78 mg/kg per day (mean 52 mg/kg per day) and was well tolerated in most patients. The seizure frequency remained unchanged in 34 patients (65%). We saw a provocation of seizures in three children (6%). Initially 15 patients (29%) benefited from GBP: five (10%) with a seizure reduction of 50–74%, seven (13%) with a reduction of 75–99% and three (6%) became seizure free. All but three experienced a development of tolerance within the next weeks to months. Conclusions : Although gabapentin seems also to be safe in children, the efficacy in refractory partial seizures was disappointing.