title: Efficacy and safety of intravenous lacosamide in refractory nonconvulsive status epilepticus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lacosamide (LCM) is a novel antiepileptic drug (AED) recently approved as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial seizures in adults. LCM is available in oral and intravenous formulations, has linear pharmacokinetics and a unique mechanism of action.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous LCM in the treatment of nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) after failure of conventional therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed all patients with NCSE treated with LCM. We reviewed the clinical and electrographic changes before and after LCM administration. We also noted any reported side effects including electrocardiographic changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We report four cases of NCSE that were refractory to conventional treatment, but readily responsive to LCM. No side effects attributable to LCM were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravenous LCM may be safe and efficacious as an add-on AED for the treatment of NCSE when standard therapy fails.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-5040, USA. mohamad.koubeissi@uhhospitals.org
authors.forename: M Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Koubeissi
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Mayor
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Estephan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rashid
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Azar
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000379:methods; D000078334:Lacosamide; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000078334:Lacosamide