Lamotrigine: clinical experience in 200 patients with epilepsy with follow-up to four years.
This open, clinical study describes the use of lamotrigine in 200 adults and children with drug resistant epilepsy. Lamotrigine was used largely as add-on therapy and outcome was assessed by the patients, parents and carers and the physician in terms of reduction of seizure frequency, drug side-effects and improvement in quality of life. Of the 200 patients, 70 (35%) were rendered seizure free. Lamotrigine was especially helpful in resistant primary generalized epilepsy, complex partial seizures, mixed seizures subsequent to brain damage, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and in complex partial seizures which secondarily generalized. Fifty-three patients ceased lamotrigine; 30 due to lack of effect, and 13 due to side-effects. Lamotrigine is a very useful antiepileptic medication of a "broad spectrum' nature being effective in primary generalized epilepsy and partial seizures as add-on therapy. The side-effect profile is good with most side-effects being avoidable.
Epilepsy Unit, Westmead Hospital, Australia.
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Buchanan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D017029:Epilepsy, Complex Partial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014227:Triazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014227:Triazines; D000077213:Lamotrigine