[Lamotrigine in the therapy of resistant epilepsy].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of lamotrigine as single agent in patients with refractory epilepsy.


METHODS
Forty-seven adult patients with refractory epilepsy, in the initial phase received carbamazepine (1208 +/- 82.9 mg/day) plus lamotrigine (561.7 +/- 76.8 mg/day); during the second phase they received lamotrigine alone (206.4 +/- 44.4 mg/day).


RESULTS
Lamotrigine monotherapy significantly improved the number of seizures per week in comparison to lamotrigine combined with carbamazepine (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Lamotrigine as single agent is more effective than carbamazepine + lamotrigine in patients with refractory epilepsy.
De Romanis
F
F
Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Italia.
Sopranzi
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014227:Triazines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014227:Triazines; D002220:Carbamazepine; D000077213:Lamotrigine