[Comparative efficacy and tolerability of carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine during long therapy of patients with bipolar and schizoaffective disorders].

An aim of the study was to adjust the technique of using oxcarbazepine (OCB) and to study its preventive action and tolerability compared to carbamazepine (CBM) in patients with bipolar and schizoaffective disorders. The study included 48 patients (7 male and 41 female), aged from 18 to 70 years, with phasic psychoses (bipolar disorder, type I - 29 patients and schizoaffective disorder - 19 patients). Patients were randomized into 2 treatment groups: 1 - 28 patients who received CBM in doses 300-1600 mg/day (mean 700+/-120 mg/day) during 25,43+/-2,34 months; 2 - 20 patients who received OCB in doses 600-1800 mg/day (mean 900+/-145 mg/day) during 12+/-0,65 months. Duration of affective symptoms during the preventive therapy with CBM was reduced by 50,1% and that for OCB - by 49,1%; a number of episodes decreased by 34,6 and 35,1%, respectively. A significant effect, i.e. complete stopping of phases, was found in 35,7% of patients of the CBM group and in 40% of patients of the OCB group. The drugs had approximately equal preventive efficacy in regard to depressive and mania phases and episodes of schizoaffective disorders as well. Moreover, both drugs were clearly able to stop the rapid cyclic course of bipolar affective disorder. Side-effects were seen in 67,86% of patients treated with CBM and 55% of patients treated with OCB. Preventive features of OCB were comparable to those of CBM for intensity and spectrum of action. The adjustment of doses for OCB therapy does not need any significant correction, the drug causes less side-effects and subjectively is better tolerated by patients.