title: The efficacy of lamotrigine on seizure control in 34 children, adolescents and young adults with intellectual and physical disability.
abstract: This study reports the use of lamotrigine, largely as add-on therapy, in 34 children, adolescents and adults with brain damage and resistant seizures. Seventy-four percent of the patients showed a greater than 50% improvement in seizure control with 35% becoming seizure free. This improvement in seizure control was associated with an enhanced quality of life in 65% of the patients as assessed by improved alertness, mobility, speech and independence. It was possible to reduce 36% of the pre-existing antiepileptic drugs and the side effect profile of lamotrigine was very good. It is proposed that lamotrigine may be a particularly useful antiepileptic drug in this particular group of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Buchanan
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014227:Triazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014227:Triazines; D000077213:Lamotrigine