Open AccessLacosamide may improve cognition in patients with focal epilepsy: EpiTrack to compare cognitive side effects of lacosamide and carbamazepine
Author(s) -
Claudio Liguori,
Francesca Izzi,
Natalia Manfredi,
Nicola Biagio Mercuri,
Fabio Placidi
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
epilepsy and behavior case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2213-3232
DOI - 10.1016/j.ebcr.2018.02.004
Subject(s) - lacosamide , carbamazepine , epilepsy , cognition , medicine , side effect (computer science) , antiepileptic drug , psychology , psychiatry , computer science , programming language
Carbamazepine (CBZ) is a first generation anti-seizure drug, considered as first choice therapy in focal epilepsy but associated with cognitive side effects. Lacosamide (LCM) is a third-generation anti-seizure drug approved for treating focal epilepsy. This case series documented the comparable efficacy of LCM and CBZ as first add on treatments in patients affected by uncontrolled focal seizures. LCM showed an increase in EpiTrack scores, which measure cognitive abilities, at follow-up compared to CBZ. This preliminary data may represent the basis for future prospective studies aimed at comparing the long-term cognitive side effects of LCM and CBZ.