Monotherapy With Levetiracetam in Newly Diagnosed Patients Suffering From Epilepsy

A Multicenter, Double-blind, Randomized, Parallel Group, Positive-controlled Trial Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Levetiracetam (1000 to 3000 mg/Day Oral b.i.d.) to Carbamazepine (400 to 1200 mg/Day Oral b.i.d.), Used as Monotherapy for up to a Maximum of 121 Weeks in Subjects (≥ 16 Years) Newly or Recently Diagnosed as Suffering From Epilepsy, and Experiencing Partial or Generalized Tonic-clonic Seizures

A double-blind trial comparing the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam to carbamazepine used as monotherapy in subjects (≥ 16 years) newly or recently diagnosed as suffering from epilepsy, and experiencing partial or generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects with newly or recently diagnosed epilepsy having experienced unprovoked partial seizures (IA, IB, IC with clear focal origin), or generalized tonic-clonic seizures (without clear focal origin), that are classifiable according to the International Classification of Epileptic Seizures. The discrimination between IC and IIE is not requested for inclusion.
• Subjects with at least 2 unprovoked seizures separated by a minimum of 48 hours in the year preceding randomization out of which at least 1 unprovoked seizure in the 3 months preceding randomization.
• Subjects with a confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy.
• Male/female subjects (≥16 years).

Exclusion Criteria:

• History or presence of seizures of other types than partial (IA, IB, IC, with clear focal origin) and generalized tonic-clonic (without clear focal origin) seizures.
• History or presence of seizures occurring only in clustered patterns, defined as repeated seizures occurring over a short period of time, i.e. < 20 minutes, with or without function regained between 2 ictal events.
• History, clinical or EEG finding suggestive of idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) at randomization.