2009 Volume 26 Issue 3 Pages 411-418
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of gabapentin in the treatment of childhood intractable epilepsy, we performed a prospective open label study on 45 children and adolescents (age 0.9-17.3 years, average±SD 8.9±4.4 years). They had intractable seizures ≥ once a month that persisted despite appropriate usage of ≥ two antiepileptic agents. The initial gabapentin dose was 16.1±6.9 mg/kg and the dosages were titrated to 25.1±10.3mg/kg (average±SD). The responder rate (the rate of patients with ≥50% reduction in seizure frequency) was 15/45 (33.3%) in total, and showed a higher ratio in those with partial epilepsy (13/32) than in those with generalized epilepsy (2/13), but there was no significant difference. Gabapentin was more effective in controlling complex partial seizures than simple partial seizures: the responder rates were 66.7% and 25.0%, respectively (p<0.05). Ten patients had adverse experiences: somnolence occurred in 6 patients, drooling with somnolence, loss of activity, increase of appetite and rash in one, respectively. These adverse effects were mild and disappeared without any other treatment except discontinuation. Gabapentin seems to be safe for children, and may be useful as adjunctive medication for childhood partial epilepsy, especially complex partial seizures.
