Overview of the clinical efficacy of lamotrigine.
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.
Richens
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University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff.
Yuen
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D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014227:Triazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014227:Triazines; D000077213:Lamotrigine