Clinical experience with oral lacosamide as adjunctive therapy in adult patients with uncontrolled epilepsy: a multicentre study in epilepsy clinics in the United Kingdom (UK).

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Lacosamide (LCS) is a new antiepileptic drug (AED) licensed in the European Union (EU) and United States (US) in 2008.

AIMS:

To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of add-on LCS in an out-patient epilepsy clinic setting to obtain useful information for everyday practice.

METHODS:

We pooled data retrospectively from the case note of patients with refractory epilepsy in whom LCS had been prescribed in 19 hospitals across the United Kingdom.

RESULTS:

Four hundred and three patients were included (mean age 41.9 years, 50.6% women, 18.1% with learning disabilities (LD)). Mean follow-up (FU) was 11.6 months (range one day to 42 months). Most patients (86.9%) presented with symptomatic partial epilepsy (SPE) and 80% were taking two or more antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) when LCS was added (mean 2, range 0-4). Retention rates were 80% at six months, 68% at one year and 45% at two years. The efficacy of LCS was evaluated at three months and at the final FU. At three months one hundred and eight patients (31.1%) reported ≥ 50% seizure reduction and 32 (9.2%) were seizure free. At the final FU 102 (37.5%) reported ≥ 50% seizures reduction and 28 (9.8%) were seizure free. One hundred and ninety three patients (48.7%) reported adverse effects (AEs). The most frequent were sedation and dizziness, followed by nausea. Lacosamide was discontinued in 150 patients (38%), 60 due to AEs alone.

CONCLUSION:

LCS appears to be an effective and safe AED when used as adjunctive therapy in patients with refractory partial epilepsy.

• Authors: Lorena Flores, Steven Kemp, Katie Colbeck, Nicholas Moran, Jennifer Quirk, Pierre Ramkolea, Tim J von Oertzen, Lina Nashef, Mark P Richardson, Peter Goulding, Robert Elwes
• Journal: Seizure (Seizure) Vol. 21 Issue 7 Pg. 512-7 (Sep 2012) ISSN: 1532-2688 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22698379 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Acetamides
• Anticonvulsants
• Lacosamide

Topics

• Acetamides (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Administration, Oral
• Adult
• Anticonvulsants (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Epilepsy (drug therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Lacosamide
• Male
• Retrospective Studies