A case series of lacosamide as adjunctive therapy in refractory sleep‐related hypermotor epilepsy (previously nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy)

Summary The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of open‐label lacosamide in patients with refractory sleep‐related hypermotor epilepsy. The study was a case review of eight patients with refractory sleep‐related hypermotor epilepsy treated with lacosamide. Seizure diaries compared the mean baseline seizure frequency with the most recent 3 months of follow‐up. Five (62.5%) patients were responders, defined as ≥50% reduction in seizure frequency, over a mean duration of exposure of 21.5 months. The mean maintenance dose of lacosamide was 400 mg/day. No‐one reported worsening of seizures. Lacosamide was well tolerated with initial fatigue being the main side‐effect. Lacosamide is a potentially efficacious adjunctive therapy in patients with refractory sleep‐related hypermotor epilepsy. A double‐blind placebo‐controlled study would determine its efficacy.