Lamotrigine & Seniors
Using data from 13 clinical trials, researchers at Glaxo Wellcome laboratories in England and the USA studied the results of 208 seniors with epilepsy (=65 years of age or older) who had participated in trials undertaken in neurology and primary care facilities. Researchers examined the extent of exposure, the incidence of drug-related adverse events and severe events, and withdrawal from the study for 146 people taking lamotrigine, 53 taking carbamazepine and 9 taking phenytoin.
Participants received lamotrigine alone (monotherapy) or as an add-on (adjunctive) therapy for a median duration of 24.1 or 47.4 weeks respectively, at a median daily dose of 100 mg in monotherapy (75 - 500 mg) or 300 mg as an adjunctive (25 - 700 mg).
The overall incidence of drug-related adverse effects was 49% for lamotrigine (72/146), 72% for carbamazepine (38/53) and 89% for phenytoin (8/9). However, the numbers of participants in each group were not comparable.
Reported incidences of drowsiness, rash and nonsignificant headache were 4% for those taking lamotrigine (6/146), and 17% (9/53) for those taking carbamezapine. Rash was the most frequent cause for withdrawal from the trials, although there were no incidences of withdrawal due to a rash after taking phenytoin. Serious drug-related adverse effects were experienced by 5% of those taking lamotrigine (7/146), 8% of those taking carbamazepine (4/53), and 11% of those taking phenytoin (1/9).
Researchers concluded that lamotrigine is well tolerated by seniors with epilepsy, if used in accordance with current adult prescribing guidelines.
More Information
Drugs and Aging. 2001 Vol 18#8 pp 621- 630. "The Tolerability of Lamotrigine in Elderly Patients With Epilepsy"
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