title: Comparison of cognitive effects of lamotrigine and oxcarbazepine in epilepsy patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compared the cognitive effects of 1 year of treatment with lamotrigine (LTG) and oxcarbazepine (OXC) in epilepsy patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study investigated 60 epilepsy patients undergoing neuropsychological tests who were either newly diagnosed or untreated in the preceding 6 months. The cognitive function in 30 patients receiving LTG monotherapy and 30 age-matched patients receiving OXC monotherapy was compared after 1 year. The neuropsychological scores at baseline and all of the epilepsy-relevant variables except seizure type did not differ between the groups. The mean daily dosages of LTG and OXC at 1 year were 93 mg and 825 mg, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The posttreatment list-learning performance was better in the LTG group than in the OXC group (p<0.05). The incidence of cognitive complaints did not differ between the two groups. The list-learning performance and Trail Making Test scores were better in each group after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LTG and OXC monotherapies have similar, slightly beneficial effects on cognitive function, and are probably not harmful.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Geun
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Da-In
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yang-Ha
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Ho-Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Doo-Kyo
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Chung-Kyu
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Soon-Hak
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Sung-Pa
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Park