Comparison Between Oxcarbazepine And Carbamazepine On Monotherapy For Partial Epilepsy

Objective This research studied the efficacy and tolerability of oxcarbazepine(OXC) as monotherapy for partial epilepsy with the comparation of carbamazepin(CBZ).Methods A total of 82 patients with partial epilepsy were recruited to this research.42 patients were assigned to receive monotherapy of OXC while 40 patients were assigned to receive monotherapy of CBZ.Prospective clinical observation was given to two groups for a whole year.Results The failure rate of OXC group was 15%while CBZ group was 21.4%.Two groups had no significant differences.No differences were found in the percentages of seizure free,＞50%reduction in seizure frequency and＜50%reduction in seizure frequency in 3 months after being cured between two groups.The same result happened in 12 months after being cured.72.5%of patients were seizure free for half year in OXC group,while only 57.1%in CBZ group.There were some differences,which were not significant.The treatment time for reaching seizure free for half year and time of first seizure of two groups had no significant differences.The rate of adverse events in OXC group was 25%while only 50%in CBZ group.The rate of adverse events were significantly different only in six months after being cured,while had no significant differences in the first three months.The most frequent adverse events in OXC group were hair loss,rash,weigh gain,somnolence and dizziness.While most frequent adverse events in CBZ group were hair loss,skin rash,somnolence and memory disturbance.Conclusion The efficacy of OXC as monotherapy for partial epilepsy was not significantly superior to CBZ,but OXC has much less adverse events than CBZ.These adverse events of OXC were often happened in the early periods of the treatment.The common adverse events of OXC and CBZ were hair loss,rash and somnolence.Weigh gain and dizziness often occurred on OXC while memory disturbance often occurred on CBZ.