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Lamotrigine as an add‐on drug in typical absence seizures
Author(s) -
Ferrie C. D.,
Robinson R. O.,
Knott C.,
Panayiotopoulos C. P.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1995.tb00434.x
Subject(s) - lamotrigine , medicine , epilepsy , refractory (planetary science) , anticonvulsant , pediatrics , drug , anesthesia , pharmacology , psychiatry , physics , astrobiology
‐ Lamotrigine is licenced in many countries for use in patients with partial seizures. Evidence suggests that it may also be effective in generalised epilepsies. Material & methods ‐ We analysed retrospectively our patients with idiopathic generalised epilepsy with refractory absences. Results ‐ Fifteen patients with idiopathic generalised epilepsies were identified who had been treated with lamotrigine for 3 months or more. All patients were also treated with sodium valproate. Fourteen patients had active absences. Nine (64%) had a total or virtual cessation of absences and in a further patient they became milder and less frequent. One patient reported an increase in seizures. The effective dose of lamotrigine was 1.6‐3.0 mg/kg/day in children and 25‐50 mg/day in adults. Patients who responded did so after the first or second dose. Lamotrigine was well tolerated. Conclusion ‐ Low‐dose lamotrigine added to sodium valproate appears to be effective in typical absence seizures. A therapeutic interaction of the two drugs seems likely.