Improved sexual function in three men taking lamotrigine for epilepsy

Little information exists about the effects of newer antiepileptic drug (AE Ds) on sexual function in men with epilepsy. We report a series of three ma le veterans whose sexual disorders improved with lamotrigine. All three had partial seizures. One patient was taking phenobarbital and gabapentin and complained of decreased potency and anorgasmia. After lamotrigine was added for better seizure control and the dosage of gabapentin was tapered, anorg asmia improved. The second patient complained of impotence after a rash whi le taking phenytoin and carbamazepine. Impotence persisted with phenobarbit al, valproate, and gabapentin. Eight months after gabapentin was replaced w ith lamotrigine, impotence improved. The third patient complained of long-s tanding impotence. Treatment with five AEDs had no effect on the dysfunctio n. Lamotrigine was added to the carbamazepine regimen; impotence improved w ith decrease in carbamazepine and increase in lamotrigine. The favorable ef fect of lamotrigine on sexual disorders in these three patients suggests th is drug should be considered under appropriate circumstances for men who ha ve sexual dysfunction while taking other antiepileptic agents.