Treatmen of Partial Seizures: Comparison Studies of Standard Antiepileptic Drugs

Simple partial, complex partial and secondary generalized seizures account for nearly all adult onset cases. Approximately 3/4 th of all patients are treated with carbamazepine (CBZ), diphenilhydanloin (PHT), and sodium valproat (VPA). A systematic review of compratire studies of patients with parital seizures is done to evaluate whether one antiepileptic agent is superior to others in terms of side effect and controlling seizures. The percentage of patients who became seizure free was not significantly different with CBZ, PHT or VPA. In conclusion, these antiepileptic drugs appear to have similar efficicacy in the treatment of partial seizures. Acute and dose-related central nervous sysdtem side effects also occured with equal frequency with CBZ, PHT and VPA treatment.