Safety and efficacy of Levetiracetam and Carbamazepine monotherapy in the management of pediatric focal epilepsy: A randomized clinical trial

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Background: Due to the limited number of studies in children with focal epilepsy and the importance of choosing the most suitable drug to control seizures in children, the administration of the most effective medication with the most negligible side effects is vital. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and side effects of Carbamazepine vs. Levetiracetam monotherapy in children with focal seizures. Design: A monocentric, randomized, controlled, double-blind, parallel-group clinical trial Setting: This study was approved by the Iranian Registry of clinical trials (registration number: IRCT20170216032603N2) on June 19, 2020, and conducted at the neurology department of Imam Ali Hospital, Karaj, Iran, from February 2020 to March 2021 Participant: This study assessed 120 patients with recently diagnosed focal seizures aged 2 to 14. Methods : Patients were randomly divided into two groups, who received Carbamazepine (CBZ) 15 to 20 mg/kg and Levetiracetam (LEV) 20 to 40 mg/kg daily, respectively. Both medicines were prescribed in divided doses of tablets twice daily. Patients were evaluated for improvement and complications at weeks four, 12, and 24. Results: Totally out of 120 patients included in the study; six patients were excluded due to various complications of CBZ. The mean number of seizures at the end of the fourth, twelfth, and twenty-fourth weeks were 1.09 ± 0.75, 0.62 ± 0.27, and 0.39 ± 0.12 in the Carbamazepine group and 1.11 ± 0.63, 0.52 ± 0.21, and 0.37 ± 0.11 in the LEV group, respectively (P>0.05). Similarly, the number of seizure-free patients was 34, 44, and 48 in the CBZ group compared to 41, 50, and 54 in the LEV group, respectively (P>0.05). On the other hand, the frequency of somnolence, dermatologic complications, and agitation was considerably higher in the CBZ group (P <0.05). Significance: Although both medicines were equally effective in seizure control, CBZ was associated with considerably more side effects and less patient compliance. Physicians should be aware of this difference to prevent unwanted consequences.