Comparison of oxcarbazepine and carbamazepine: a double-blind study

The antiepileptic efficacy and side-effects of oxcarbazepine (OXC), a new carbamazepine derivate, were evaluated in a double-blind study. Forty ambulatory epileptics with unsatisfactory seizure control or unwanted effects due to phenytoin monotherapy were changed to OXC or carbamazepine (CBZ) and were then followed for 48-50 weeks. Thirty-four of the patients completed the study. The seizure frequencies on the trial drugs were not significantly different and the antiepileptic efficacy of OXC was comparable to CBZ. The incidence of side-effects during the initiation phase was lower with OXC suggesting better tolerability of OXC compared to CBZ.