LAMOTRIGINE AS AN ADD-ON DRUG IN TYPICAL ABSENCE SEIZURES

Introduction - Lamotrigine is licenced in many countries for use in pa tients with partial seizures. Evidence suggests that it may also be ef fective in generalised epilepsies. Material & methods - We analysed re trospectively our patients with idiopathic generalised epilepsy with r efractory absences. Results - Fifteen patients with idiopathic general ised epilepsies were identified who had been treated with lamotrigine for 3 months or more. All patients were also treated with sodium valpr oate. Fourteen patients had active absences. Nine (64%) had a total or virtual cessation of absences and in a further patient they became mi lder and less frequent. One patient reported an increase in seizures. The effective dose of lamotrigine was 1.6-3.0 mg/kg/day in children an d 25-50 mg/day in adults. Patients who responded did so after the firs t or second dose. Lamotrigine was well tolerated. Conclusion - Low-dos e lamotrigine added to sodium valproate appears to be effective in typ ical absence seizures. A therapeutic interaction of the two drugs seem s likely.