[Efficacy of topiramate (topamax) in epileptic patients of different age]

The aim of the study was to evaluate efficacy and tolerability of topamax in patients of different age with various types of epilepsy. The drug was prescribed as monotherapy and combined therapy to 114 patients (53 men, 61 women) who were divided into age groups as follows: early age children--16 patients, preschool and school children--20, pubertal children--16, adolescent--23, middle-age patients--38, elderly--1. During topamax treatment, a complete remission was achieved in 48% patients, reduction of seizures frequency (more than by 50%)--in 44% patients. Topamax was more effective by remission index in the pubertal children, adolescent and adults as compared to early age children. The same peculiarity was characteristic of topamax in the treatment of symptomatic epilepsy. This drug was well-tolerable in all the groups studied, with isolated cases of moderate side-effects (body mass reduction, irritability, allergic skin reactions, paresthesias).