title: Long-term efficacy and safety of lacosamide monotherapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures: A multicenter evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study is to report the efficacy and tolerability of lacosamide (LCM) monotherapy, as first-line and conversion regimens, in the treatment of patients with partial-onset seizures.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients with focal epilepsy on LCM monotherapy from six centers in Spain. Efficacy and tolerability were evaluated in the overall group and in subgroups of patients who were naive to antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy (Group 1) and those who had previously been treated with AEDs (Group 2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-six patients were identified including 18 patients in Group 1 and 48 patients in Group 2. Patients were followed up for 0.5-54 months in monotherapy (mean 15.5 months). Forty-two (63.6%) patients remained seizure-free during all the follow-up. At 6 and 12 months, seizure-free rates were 77.6% and 72.3%, respectively. The drug was withdrawn in 10 (15%) patients (3 side effects, 6 lack of efficacy, 1 other reason). Fifteen (22.7%) patients reported mild to moderate side effects with the use of LCM. No differences were found between Groups 1 and 2 regarding efficacy outcomes or tolerability issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our series more than two-thirds of the patients remained seizure-free on LCM monotherapy. Side effects were generally mild and led to discontinuation in only 3/66 (4.5%) patients. Our experience suggests that LCM monotherapy, either as first-line or after conversion, may be a valuable option for patients with focal epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Fundación Jiménez Díaz and CIBERER, Avda. Reyes Católicos, 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Giráldez
authors.affiliation: Hospital Ruber Internacional, c/Calle de la Masó 38, 28034 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Toledano
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínico Universitario San Carlos, c/Profesor Martín Lagos s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: García-Morales
authors.affiliation: Hospital Ruber Internacional, c/Calle de la Masó 38, 28034 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gil-Nagel
authors.affiliation: Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Travesía de Choupana s/n, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: López-González
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Cta Madrid-Cartagena s/n, el Palmar, 30120 Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tortosa
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Infanta Sofía, Paseo de Europa 34, 28702 San Sebastián de los Reyes, Spain.
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ojeda
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Fundación Jiménez Díaz and CIBERER, Avda. Reyes Católicos, 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: joseserratosa@me.com.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Serratosa
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000078334:Lacosamide; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000078334:Lacosamide
keywords: Antiepileptic drug; Epilepsy; Lacosamide; Monotherapy; Seizure