[Topiramate as an example of using generics in the treatment of epilepsy]

Causes of losing the pharmacological remission with duration of more than one year have been analyzed in 220 patients with epilepsy. The most often cause of losing control of seizures was switching from brand antiepileptic drugs to generic analogue (60,4% of patients) with 28,2% of them being switched to topiramate generics. The results of switching of 160 patients from the brand form of topiramate (topamax) to its generics were compared to those in the control group of 52 patients who continued to receive the original form. As a result of switching the remission was lost in 75,6% of patients, epileptic status in 3,75%; 51,9% of patients needed emergency care and hospitalization. Switching back to original medication was done in 86,2% of patients with the following increasing of initial doses of topamax in 58,0% and transition from mono- to polytherapy in 60,0%. The baseline level of seizure control has been achieved only in 32,9% of patients.