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. (J Child Neurol 2004;19:135—141).
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