ObjectiveTo evaluate the treatment retention rate of five new types of antiepileptic drugs:lamotrigine (LTG), topiramate (TPM), oxcarbazepine (OXC), levetiracetam (LEV) and gabapentin (GBP) and their tolerability.
MethodsA total of 216 patients diagnosed as epilepsy by receiving the long-term video electroencephalography monitoring between October 2012 and October 2014 were randomized into five drug treatment groups (LTG, n=57; TPM, n=42; OXC, n=49; LEV, n=47; GBP, n=21) and received corresponding dose of drug therapy. The seizure frequency, adverse events and number of patients giving up therapy were collected and recorded via phone or interview every 4 weeks. Every follow-up retention rate of every drug group equals current patient number continuing therapy/initial patient number of this drug group×100%. When the trial ended, Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox proportional risk model were applied for statistical analysis.
ResultsThe trial lasted for 106 weeks. The final retention rate of LTG was the highest (85.9%), and GBP was the lowest (14.3%). Most patients could continue the therapy until the end of the trial after 24 weeks. The leading causes of discontinuing therapy included:no efficacy, rash, sedation and aggressive behavior.
ConclusionThe retention rate of new types of antiepileptic drugs is associated with these elements:drug efficacy, adverse events, individual tolerability of drug, drug accessibility and the patients' individual preference of drug administration.
