Efficacy and safety of eslicarbazepine acetate as a first or later adjunctive therapy in patients with focal seizures

•An open-label, 24-week study of ESL in a real-world clinical setting.•ESL was effective and well tolerated as the first adjunctive therapy to LEV or LTG.•ESL was also effective and well tolerated in treatment-resistant patients.•24-week retention rates were 81.8 % and 63.8 %, respectively.•There was no worsening in behavior, mood, or health-related quality of life.