Comparison of efficacy of trileptal (oxcarbazepine) and carbamazepine in the treatment of temporal epilepsy

Abstract An aim of the study was to compare the spectrum of effects of oxcarbazepine and carbamazepine in patients with partial temporal epilepsy. Seventy-two patients (24 men and 48 women) diagnosed with cryptogenic partial epilepsy have been examined. Fifty-one patients received carbamazepine as a monotherapy in dosage 300-1200 mg/day, 21 patients were treated with oxcarbazepine in dosage 600-1500 mg daily. The results revealed the similar effects of two drugs. However some differences were also found: the effect of oxcarbazepine on complex partial seizures was more pronounced comparing to carbamazepine. These differences became evident after the first month of therapy and were related only with part of the reduction of complex partial seizures after 1, 2, and 3 month of therapy. The highest levels of significance for these differences for the complete reduction of complex partial seizures (a control over seizures) were observed after 2 and 3 months of therapy. During the therapy, oxcarbazepine was more effective than carbamazepine in the reduction of refractory complex partial seizures. In conclusion, oxcarbazepine can be considered as a drug of choice in the treatment of complex partial seizures in patients with partial epilepsy.