Lacosamide monotherapy for partial onset seizures

To evaluate the 1-year efficacy and safety of oral lacosamide as conversion monotherapy in adult patients with partial onset seizures with or without generalization.

We prospectively followed-up consecutive patients converted to lacosamide monotherapy after 1-year seizure freedom on lacosamide add-on therapy and withdrawal of the concurrent antiepileptic drug (AED). Seizure occurrence, treatment compliance and drug toxicity were assessed every 3 months up to 1 year. The study outcomes were the retention rate of lacosamide as single AED and the seizure freedom under lacosamide monotherapy at 1 year from withdrawal of background AED. The safety variable was the prevalence of lacosamide related adverse events (AEs).

Among the 58 included patients, at 1 year from withdrawal of background medication, 37 (63.8%) retained lacosamide as single AED and 32 (55.2%) were free from seizure occurrence under lacosamide monotherapy throughout the entire follow-up. The history of less than three lifetime AEDs turned out to be significant predictor of seizure freedom (adjusted OR = 6.38, 95% CI 1.85-21.98, p = 0.003). Twelve (20.8%) subjects reported mild to moderate AEs, with the commonest being drowsiness, dizziness, and headache.

Conversion to lacosamide monotherapy could be effective and well tolerated in selected adults patients with partial onset seizures who had achieved seizure freedom during lacosamide add-on therapy.