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Overview of the Clinical Efficacy of Lamotrigine
Author(s) -
Richens A.,
Yuen A. W. C.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1991.tb05880.x
Subject(s) - lamotrigine , medicine , crossover study , epilepsy , refractory (planetary science) , anticonvulsant , anesthesia , ictal , regimen , placebo , carbamazepine , phenytoin , partial seizures , psychiatry , physics , alternative medicine , pathology , astrobiology
Summary: Testing the efficacy of lamotrigine (LTG) in epileptic patients has been approached in several ways. The first pilot study examined the effect of a single dose of LTG in patients with frequent interictal spikes, and a reduction in spike frequency was observed. Subsequently, single doses reduced photosensitivity in appropriate patients. Single‐blind administration of LTG for 1 week in addition to the patients' regular antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), in patients with refractory seizures, reduced seizures despite the short duration of therapy. This regimen was continued using a placebo‐controlled crossover study with 1‐week duration of treatment. Efficacy in partial and tonic‐clonic seizures was subsequently confirmed in four double‐blind crossover studies; a meta‐analysis of these four studies showed a 30% reduction in partial seizures despite the intractable nature of the seizures in the patients included. Current studies aim at evaluating the drug as monotherapy and in different seizure types.