Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: A Randomized, Multi-centre, Double-blind Study, to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of Zonisamide and Carbamazepine as Monotherapy, in Newly Diagnosed Partial Epilepsy
Brief Summary: This is a two-arm, randomized, double-blind, non-inferiority study using a flexible dosing regime to allow optimal zonisamide or carbamazepine therapy for individual subjects. Assessment of eligibility will take place at the Screening Visit. The subjects will be randomized to either the carbamazepine or zonisamide arm at the Randomization Visit (T1). T1 must occur as soon as possible (and at least within 14 days) of the Screening Visit in order to optimize subject care.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 60 yrs or above.
* New onset focal epilepsy i.e. either at least one epileptic seizure in the last 6 months and focal epileptiform discharges on EEG or a relevant lesion on CT/MRI or at least 2 epileptic seizures, one of which occurring in the last 6 months prior inclusion.
* No previous AED treatment, except for a period not longer than 4 weeks prior to inclusion (V0).
* Ability of subject to understand verbal and written instructions, to comply with all study requirements, and to comprehend character and individual consequences of the clinical trial.
* Written informed consent before enrolment in the trial.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Acute symptomatic epileptic seizures occurring acutely within a 2 week period after the onset of an acute illness such as cerebral haemorrhage, cerebral infarct, rapid progressive malignancy or other acute brain abnormalities (i.e. encephalitis, hypoxic brain damage, trauma, metabolic derangement, following brain surgery).
* Dementia (as defined by history)
* Renal insufficiency as defined by GFR \< 50 mL/min.
* Increased liver enzymes (GOT, GPT, gGT) or increased bilirubin ≥ 2-fold the upper limit of normal (ULN).
* Pre-treatment with valproic acid within the four weeks prior inclusion (V0).
* Contraindication against or history of hypersensitivity to any of the investigational medicinal products or to any drug with similar chemical structure or to any excipient present in the pharmaceutical form of the investigational medicinal products.
* Participation in other clinical trials and observation period of competing trials within the last 2 months, respectively.
* History of drug or alcohol abuse within the last 2 years.
* Medical condition which interferes with the participation in the trial according to the opinion of the investigator.
* Patients with life expectancy \< 1 year due to malignant disease
* Psychiatric morbidity requiring legal guardianship.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of epilepsy (all types of seizures) was made during the past year
* Subjects must have had at least two unprovoked seizures in the past 2 years with at least one during the last 6 months
* Female subjects without childbearing potential are eligible. Female subjects with childbearing potential are eligible if they use a medically accepted contraceptive method

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subjects previously allocated to a trial treatment (CBZ, VPA and LEV) used in this trial
* Participation in another clinical trial with an investigational drug or device within 12 weeks of the selection visit (V1), or at any time during this trial
* Pregnant or lactating women
* Presence of known pseudoseizures within the last year
* Uncountable seizures (clusters) or history of convulsive status epilepticus
* Any disorder or condition that may interfere with the absorption, distribution, metabolisation or excretion of drugs
* History of suicide attempt, current suicidal ideation, or other serious psychiatric disorders requiring or having required hospitalization or medication within the previous five years
* Presence of progressive cerebral disease, any other progressively degenerative neurological disease, or any cerebral tumors
* Presence of a terminal illness or any medical condition that might interfere with the subject's trial participation
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Male or female subjects 12 to 75 years of age.
* Subjects must have inadequately controlled partial onset epilepsy.
* Subjects must be experiencing 2 to 40 seizures per 4-week period while being maintained on one or two standard AED(s)

Exclusion Criteria:

* A history of status epilepticus in the 6 months preceding randomization.
* Significant medical, psychiatric or neurological illness.
* Intake of benzodiazepines on more than an occasional basis
* History of previous treatment with levetiracetam or sensitivity to levetiracetam.
D: INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Subjects will be eligible for the study if they meet all of the following inclusion criteria:

1. Male or female subjects, 18 to 75 years of age inclusive.
2. Subjects with untreated, newly diagnosed epilepsy having at least two well documented, unprovoked, clinically evaluated and classified partial seizures (with or without secondary generalization) or generalized tonic-clonic seizures (without clear focal origin) within 12 months of the Screening Visit, of which at least one seizure occurred within three months of the Screening Visit (\> one seizure within a 24 hour period will be counted as one seizure).
3. Subjects will either have had no previous use of an AED, or treatment with one AED for a maximum duration of two weeks before the Randomization Visit (T1).
4. Subjects have a documented electroencephalogram (EEG) within 12 months of the Screening Visit, compatible with localization-related epilepsy (to exclude primary generalized epilepsy).
5. Subjects have a documented computed axial tomography (CAT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan confirming the absence of a progressive neurological lesion within 12 months of the Screening Visit.
6. Female subjects without childbearing potential (two years post-menopausal, bilateral oophorectomy or tubal ligation, complete hysterectomy) are eligible. Female subjects with childbearing potential must not be pregnant as confirmed by a negative pregnancy test at screening and randomization, must not be lactating and must be using a medically acceptable form of contraception, for the duration of the study and for one month following discontinuation of the study drug. Medically acceptable contraception is defined here as oral contraception pill with at least 50 micrograms ethinylestradiol per intake, contraceptive injections and implants, or intrauterine device in place for at least three months.
7. Subjects who are able and willing to follow investigational study procedures, maintain a seizure diary, and report AEs.
8. Subjects who are able and willing to give written informed consent.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Subjects who meet any of the following exclusion criteria will not be eligible for the study:

1. Subjects have a history of clinical investigations, including EEG data, that are suggestive of idiopathic generalised epilepsy as defined by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).
2. Subjects with a history of absence, myoclonic, clonic, tonic, or atonic seizures.
3. Subjects have a history of status epilepticus, and/or non-epileptic seizures (e.g., metabolic, pseudo-seizures).
4. Subjects have experienced seizures relating to drugs, alcohol, acute medical illness, mental retardation, or subjects with situation-related seizures.
5. Subjects have progressive encephalopathy or findings consistent with progressive CNS disease or lesion (e.g. infection, demyelination, or tumour).
6. Subjects have a history of a significant or currently uncontrolled disease that will interfere with the conduct of this study or the assessment of safety and efficacy of the study drug.
7. Subjects have been previously treated with carbamazepine or zonisamide.
8. Subjects have received an investigational drug or device in the three months prior to the Screening Visit.
9. Subjects have a known hypersensitivity to sulfonamides, dibenzazepine derivatives, or tricyclic antidepressants.
10. Subjects have a history of bone marrow depression, low platelet count or other blood dyscrasia.
11. Subjects have a history of acute intermittent porphyria.
12. Subjects have a history of renal disorder (serum creatinine level of \> 135 Ã¬mol / l (1.5 mg/dL at the Screening Visit), hepatic disorder or clinically significant abnormal liver function tests; aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \>2 times the upper normal limit.
13. Subjects have a body weight of less than 40 kg.
14. Subjects have a history of progressive malignancy within the previous 5 years (excluding a history of non-metastasized and adequately treated cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma).
15. Subjects have a history of psychiatric illness or mood disorder requiring electro-convulsive or drug therapy within the previous 6 months which is considered uncontrolled; a history of suicide attempt; alcohol or drug abuse; chronic treatment with benzodiazepines or barbiturates.
16. Subjects are currently taking carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.
17. Subjects have a history of pancreatitis, nephrolithiasis or hypercalcuria, clinically significant laboratory or electro-cardiographic abnormalities, or uncontrolled hypertension.
18. Subjects are currently taking mono-amine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or any other excluded medications.

Answer: D