J Korean Child Neurol Soc.  2003 May;11(1):68-72.

Change of Body Weight According to Antiepileptic Drugs in Children with Epilepsy:Valproic Acid vs. Topiramate

• Kim SJ
• Park HS
• Hwang JS
• Jung YJ
• Ko TS

Abstract

PURPOSE: The use of antiepileptic drugs for the seizure control has been a remarkable breakthrough. However, excessive body weight gain is a common side effect of some antiepileptic drugs. Topiramate is a novel and highly effective antiepileptic drug that has been associated with weight loss in some patients. This study was undertaken to compare the change of body weight in children treated with valproic acid and topiramate for epilepsy.
METHODS
Children who took medications for epilepsy with either valproic acid or topiramate were recruited. We collected the data of the initial weight and the follow-up weight on average, 10 months documented in the medical records. We analyzed the change of body weight due to antiepileptic drugs in the study subjects.
RESULTS
Statistically significant weight gains after treatment with valproic acid were observed(mean+/-SD, 3.7+/-3.2 kg). However, there have nearly no change of body weight after the treatment with topiramate(mean+/-SD, -0.9+/-2.3 kg). There were significant difference in weight changes between two groups of two different antiepileptic drug.
CONCLUSION
This study showed that topiramate caused little weight gain in children with epilepsy. Antiepileptic drugs should be selected by individual patient's characteristics.

Keyword

Antiepileptic drug; Weight change; Children

MeSH Terms

Anticonvulsants*
Body Weight*
Child*
Epilepsy
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Medical Records
Seizures
Valproic Acid
Weight Gain
Weight Loss
Anticonvulsants
Valproic Acid