Topiramate monotherapy in adult patients with recently diagnosed partial epilepsy

Monotherapy with TPM was evaluated in an open-label study including 28 adult patients (17 men and 11 with women, aged 22 to 82 years) with recently diagnosed partial epilepsy. After a 2-24 months follow-up (mean 11.5 mths), 16 patients (57%) were seizure-free, 2 (7%) achieved a seizure reduction > 75%, 7 (25%) had a seizure reduction > 50%, and 3 patients (11%) had no improvement. Side effects including weight loss, paraesthesia and sedation were reported in 13 out of 28 patients (46%). Three out of 28 patients (11%) complained of sexual impotence. The results indicate that TPM is an effective and well tolerated drug when utilised in monotherapy.