[Lamotrigine in the adult-onset epilepsy: efficacy and long-term safety].
BACKGROUND
LTG is a new antiepileptic drug that is nowadays very often used in epileptic patients.


OBJECTIVE
To determine efficacy and safety of Lamotrigine (LTG) in the first five years after its marketing in patients at a third level university hospital, as well as its impact on the management of classic antiepileptic drugs (AED).


METHODS
We reviewed retrospectively our Epilepsy Unit Database. One hundred patients were treated with LTG in a 5-year period. Efficacy was evaluated comparing seizure frequency in a 6-month period before and after LTG. The type of epilepsy, side effects, blood levels and concomitant treatments were considered in the analysis.


RESULTS
LTG was effective in all groups of epileptic patients studied. Eighteen percent of patients became seizure-free. Seventeen percent of patients improved more than 50%. Fifty-seven percent of patients remained treated with LTG after four years of follow-up. Side effects were mild, but frequent; only four patients discontinued LTG because of adverse effects. Serum levels were usually high, but showed no relation with clinical efficacy. The mean number of AED taken per patient increased.


CONCLUSIONS
LTG is a safe an effective drug in epilepsy. It has a clear impact in the management of the epileptic patients.
Alegre
M
M
Unidad de Epilepsia, Departamento de Neurología. Clínica Universitaria de Navarra, Universidad de Navarra. Pamplona, Spain.
Iriarte
J
J
Schlumberger
E
E
Urrestarazu
E
E
Lázaro
D
D
Viteri
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014227:Triazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014227:Triazines; D000077213:Lamotrigine
Lamotrigina en las epilepsias del adulto: eficacia y seguridad a largo plazo.