Weight Changes with Topiramate in Korean Overweight Epileptic Patients

Suh, Young Sung; Cho, Yong Won; Lee, Sang Do

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate weight reduction effect of topiramate on Korean overweight epileptic patients.
METHODS
A total of 45 adult overweight epileptic subjects taking topiramate who visited an epilepsy clinic of Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Korea, were enrolled for this study. Anthropometric data were collected whenever they visited the clinic in 12 weeks. None of subjects participated in a non-pharmacological weight-loss program. This study compared the weight change of Korean overweight epileptic subjects with 75 mg or less of topiramate (group A) and those with 100 mg or above of topiramate (group B).
RESULTS
The mean body weight at 12 weeks was significantly reduced by 2.3+/-2.1 kg in group A and 5.4+/-3.2 kg in group B than the baseline body weight (P<0.05). Weight loss of 5% and 10% of the baseline weight were achieved by 36.4% and 0% in subjects of group A, and 65.2% and 13.0% in group B, respectively. Weight changes were significantly different at 4, 6, 8 and 12 weeks between group A and B (P<0.05). Improvements were observed in blood pressure, lipid profiles and fasting glucose in group A or B.
CONCLUSION
In topiramate treatment of Korean overweight epileptic patients, weight change was more significant in subjects with 100 mg or above of topiramate than in subjects with 75 mg or less. Further investigation of topiramate's efficacy and safety in Korean overweight subjects is needed.