title: Lacosamide in the treatment of acute recurrent seizures and periodic epileptiform patterns in critically ill patients.
abstract: We investigated the safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of lacosamide (LCM) in patients with acute recurrent seizures or with periodic epileptiform activity captured during continuous EEG monitoring. A total of 17 patients received LCM; 12 patients received LCM as a second or third antiepileptic drug (AED), one patient as a fourth AED, and one patient as a fifth AED. No additional AEDs were introduced after LCM in 15 patients. Twelve patients responded to LCM with improvement in the seizures or periodic epileptiform activity. Two patients required further AED management or burst suppression. No adverse effects, including symptomatic bradycardia and allergic reactions, were seen for intravenous infusion dosages up to 300 mg. Eleven patients were eventually discharged on LCM. LCM is an important new AED in the add-on treatment of acute recurrent seizures and periodic epileptiform activity in critically ill patients.
authors.affiliation: The Edward B. Bromfield Epilepsy Program, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Division of Epilepsy, EEG, and Sleep Neurology, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Parkerson
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reinsberger
authors.forename: Sherry H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Dworetzky
authors.forename: Jong Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016638:Critical Illness; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000078334:Lacosamide; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000078334:Lacosamide