JLE

Epileptic Disorders

MENU

Efficacy and safety of lacosamide as an adjunctive therapy for refractory focal epilepsy in paediatric patients: a retrospective single-centre study Volume 17, issue 4, December 2015

TEST YOURSELF

(1) Is lacosamide safe and effective for treating paediatric patients with refractory focal epilepsy?


(2) What is the lacosamide mechanism of action?


(3) What are the most common adverse events of treatment with lacosamide?

 

 

 

 

See answers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers

(1) No controlled clinical trials of lacosamide efficacy have been reported yet in paediatric patients with refractory focal epilepsy. However, several paediatric observational studies have demonstrated seizure reduction and an adverse events profile comparable to adult clinical trials.


(2) Lacosamide reduces neuronal excitability by selectively enhancing the slow inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels.

(3) Mild or moderate adverse events are reported in approximately 50% of patients. The most frequent dose-related adverse effects involve the nervous and gastrointestinal systems, such as dizziness, headache and nausea. Caution is advised when using lacosamide in adults with severe cardiac disease or conduction problems as high doses of the drug have been shown to slightly prolong PR interval.

 

 

Back to questions