1043-3155 Pediatr Neurol Briefs pedneurbriefs Pediatr Neurol Briefs Pediatric Neurology Briefs Pediatr Neurol Briefs 2166-6482 1043-3155 2166-3155 Pediatric Neurology Briefs Publishers Chicago, IL, USA PNB-13-61-a 10.15844/pedneurbriefs-13-8-7 Anticonvulsant Drugs Neurology Pediatrics Nervous System Diseases Child Development Brain Diseases Neurosurgery Child Infant Lamotrigine for Absence Seizures http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0173-7931 Millichap J. Gordon MD 1 2 * Division of Neurology, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL Correspondence: Dr. J. Gordon Millichap, E-mail: jgmillichap@northwestern.edu 08 1999 01 05 2016 13 8 61 61 Copyright: © 1999 The Author(s) 1999 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Lamictal (lamotrigine) monotherapy for typical absence seizures in children

The effectiveness and safety of lamotrigine (Lamictal) monotherapy in newly diagnosed typical absence seizures in 45 children and adolescents, aged 3-15 years, were evaluated in a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial at centers in Norfolk, VA; Akron, OH; Boston, MA; and Research Triangle Park, NC.

 Typical Absence Seizures Hyperventilation Protocol Analysis

The effectiveness and safety of lamotrigine (Lamictal) monotherapy in newly diagnosed typical absence seizures in 45 children and adolescents, aged 3-15 years, were evaluated in a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial at centers in Norfolk, VA; Akron, OH; Boston, MA; and Research Triangle Park, NC. EEG with hyperventilation and ambulatory 24-hr EEG recordings were used to confirm diagnoses and assess freedom from seizures. In the initial open-label dose escalation phase, 71% of patients (intent-to-treat) or 82% (per protocol analysis) became seizure free on doses of 2-15 mg/kg/day (median, 5.0). In the controlled trial, 62% of patients remained seizure free when treated with LTG and 21% when receiving placebo (p<0.02). Mean plasma LTG concentrations showed a linear relation to the dose. Adverse effects included rash, nystagmus, and depression, but none was severe. Pre-treatment inattention and hyperactivity in 3 patients were improved following LTG. [1]

COMMENT. Lamotrigine monotherapy is effective and relatively free from serious side effects in children with typical absence seizures. Skin rash can be troublesome, but risk of serious rash may be lessened by adhering to recommended dosage guide-lines.

Frank LM Enlow T Holmes GL Manasco P Concannon S Chen C Lamictal (lamotrigine) monotherapy for typical absence seizures in children Epilepsia 1999 Jul 40 7 973 9 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1999.tb00805.x 10403222