title: Intravenous lacosamide as short-term replacement for oral lacosamide in partial-onset seizures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lacosamide is a new antiepileptic drug effective for adjunctive treatment of partial-onset seizures. We evaluated the safety and tolerability of an intravenous (i.v.) formulation of lacosamide (200-800 mg/day) infused over 10, 15, and 30 min as short-term replacement for oral lacosamide in patients with partial-onset seizures.
  
  
  METHODS
  This multicenter, open-label, inpatient trial enrolled 160 patients from ongoing open-label, long-term trials who were taking stable doses of oral lacosamide and up to three concomitant antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Serial cohorts of patients were converted from oral lacosamide treatment to the same intravenous doses infused over progressively shorter infusion durations: 30, 15, and 10 min for 2-5 days. A data monitoring committee (DMC) reviewed safety data for each cohort. The safety of intravenous lacosamide was assessed from adverse events (AEs), laboratory variables, electrocardiography findings, and physical/neurologic examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 160 patients received lacosamide 200-800 mg/day, i.v., for 2-5 days, of which 69% received 400-800 mg/day doses. The most common AEs (reported by <or=10% of patients) were headache, dizziness, and somnolence. There was no increase in frequency or severity of AEs with shorter durations of infusion or increased days of exposure. AEs were similar, but more frequent, with higher doses (>or=400 mg/day). Injection-site events were rare and did not appear to be linked to infusion doses or rates. Lacosamide plasma concentrations were linearly related to dose across the cohorts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This comprehensive evaluation supports the safety of an intravenous lacosamide infusion duration as short as 15 min for short-term (2-5 days) replacement for patients temporarily unable to take oral lacosamide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland 21287-7247, USA. gkrauss@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krauss
authors.forename: Elinor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ben-Menachem
authors.forename: Ruta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mameniskiene
authors.forename: Nerija
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vaiciene-Magistris
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brock
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Whitesides
authors.forename: Martin E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004172:Diplopia / Q000139:chemically induced; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D038622:Internationality; D000078334:Lacosamide; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D000078334:Lacosamide