Improved quality of life in patients with partial seizures after conversion to oxcarbazepine monotherapy

Objective. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed in patients who switched to oxcarbazepine monotherapy because of the lack of efficacy or poor tolerability of their current antiepileptic drug (AED). Method. This open-label, single-arm study consisted of patients aged >= 12 years with partial onset seizures. Oxcarbazepine (8-10 mg/kg/day for children, 600 mg/day for adults) was titrated up over 4 weeks while the existing AID was tapered off. QOL was evaluated at baseline and end of study (Week 16) using the validated-in-epilepsy QOLIE-31 questionnaire. Results. For all patients who completed the QOLIE-31 at baseline and completion, a statistically significant improvement was noted for both the composite and multi-item subscale QOL scores (P < 0.05 vs baseline). Statistically significant mean percentage improvements of >= 10% from baseline (range = 10.8-50.1%) were also noted. Significant improvements were seen in health-related QOL for patients who experienced seizure freedom or >= 50% reductions in seizure frequency with oxcarbazepine monotherapy. Conclusions. Patients with partial seizures who switched to oxcarbazepine monotherapy showed statistically significant, clinically relevant improvements in QOL. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier Inc.