Topiramate, carbamazepine, and valproate monotherapy: double-blind comparison in children with newly diagnosed epilepsy.

In a novel double-blind trial, topiramate was compared with the investigator's choice of carbamazepine or valproate as first-line therapy in patients as young as 6 years of age with newly diagnosed epilepsy. Among 613 patients enrolled in the trial, 119 (19%) were children or adolescents (6-16 years of age). No differences between fixed doses of topiramate (100 and 200 mg/day) and carbamazepine (600 mg/day) or valproate (1250 mg/day) were observed in efficacy measures: time to exit, time to first seizure, and the proportion of patients who were seizure free during the last 6 months of treatment. Topiramate 100 mg/day (2.0 mg/kg/day in this study population) was associated with the fewest discontinuations owing to side effects. Based on efficacy and tolerability, the recommended target dose for topiramate as first-line therapy in children and adolescents is 100 mg/day.