section name header

Evidence summaries

Oxcarbazepine Versus Carbamazepine Monotherapy for Partial Onset Seizures

Oxcarbazepine and carbamazepine may be similarly effective and well tolerated in patients with partial onset seizures. Level of evidence: "C"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 3 studies with a total of 723 subjects with partial onset epilepsy. The efficacy results are based on one trial using adequate outcome measures of efficacy. The results on adverse events are based on 3 trials. There was no difference in time to treatment withdrawal between the two drugs (HR of oxcarbazepine (OXC) versus carbamazepine (CBZ): 1.04, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.39). Further analyses showed no significant difference in treatment withdrawal for unacceptable side effects (HR of OXC versus CBZ: 0.85, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.24) and in treatment withdrawal for inadequate seizure control (HR of OXC versus CBZ: 1.33, 95% CI 0.82 to 2.15). Significantly fewer patients on carbamazepine treatment developed nausea or vomiting, or both (odds ratio of OXC versus CBZ: 3.15, 95% CI 1.39 to 7.14).

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study limitations (lack of blinding) and imprecise results (efficacy results are based on one trial).

    References

    • Koch MW, Polman SK. Oxcarbazepine versus carbamazepine monotherapy for partial onset seizures. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2009 Oct 7;(4):CD006453. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords