Efficacy and tolerability of lacosamide for epileptic patient: Study from epilepsy clinic in Makkah

Abstract

Lacosamide (LCM) is new antiepileptic drugs with a novel effect on enhance slow inactivation of sodium channel without effect on fast inactivation. A pooled analysis of three randomized, double blind, placebo controlled studies showed that LCM was effective in reducing seizure frequency across the dose range (200-600 mg/day).The effect was maintained regardless the patient surgical history or concomitant antiepileptic drug (AED) use. The aim of this study is to assess the real time efficacy and tolerability of LCM in treatment of epilepsy. This a retrospective study carried out in king Abdulla medical city in Makkah. Patient on LCM was included in this study. A fifty four (54) patients on LCM, age between 15 and 68 years were included. Seven patients (13%) has LCM as a monotherapy. Thirty five patients (63%) had focal onset seizure with secondary generalization, the rest had focal onset seizure. In 87% it is used as an add on therapy. At 1 year 32 patients (59%) were seizure free, 12 patients (22%) had 75% reduction of seizure frequency. Nine patients (16.6%) discontinued the drugs, three (5.5%) because of lack of effect, four (7.4%) due to side effect and two have poor compliance to treatment. Out of 54 patients five patients (9%) had significant side effect. Dizziness was the most reported side effect. LCM significantly reduce seizure frequency in patient with focal epilepsy. It is well tolerated with minimal side effect.