LONGTERM RETENTION RATES OF THE NEWER ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUGS IN DIFFICULT-TO-TREAT CHILDHOOD EPILEPSIES
Abstract number :
2.220
Submission category :
Year :
2005
Submission ID :
5524
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/3/2005 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Dec 2, 2005, 06:00 AM
Authors :
Celina v. Stuelpnagel-Frfr. v. Oefele, Hans Holthausen, and Gerhard Kluger
There are no data comparing the long-term treatment results of the newer antiepileptic drugs (FBM, GBP, LEV, LTG, OXC, TPM, TGB, VGB).In practice, particularly when dealing with difficult-to-treat epilepsies, information about the long-term retention might be more useful than reports e. g. on initial responses etc.
Definition of [ldquo]retention rate[rdquo]: Percentage of patients, who were still treated with the drug after four years (LEV, TPM) or after five years (FBM, GBP, LTG, OXC, TGB, VGB). Number of patients: FBM N=29; GBP N= 31; LEV N= 50; LTG N= 39; OXC N= 40; TPM N= 41; TGB N=12 and VGB N= 56. Medication as add-on therapy after failing to respond to at least two of the first line standard drugs. Definition of [ldquo]initial reponse[rdquo]: More than 50% seizure reduction after six months. Initial response (%): FBM 28; GBP 32; LTG 25; OXC 41; TGB 0; VGB 32, LEV 26; TPM 20.
Adverse effects (%):FBM 28; GBP 46; LTG 41; OXC 3; TGB 58; VGB 41, LEV 36; TPM 54.
Retention rate (%):FBM 13; GBP 0; LTG 25; OXC 40; TGB 0; VGB 9, LEV 14; TPM 16. Initial response, adverse effects and retention rates differ considerably between the various new antiepileptic drugs. However, figures are biased by different criterias of selection in this very heterogeneous group of patients. Still, these limitations do not explain all of the to some extent striking differences between the new drugs.