GSK’s Lamictal effective as add-on therapy

In the study, Lamictal (lamotrigine) was given to patients inadequately controlled with one or two concurrent antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Study results show Lamictal significantly reduced primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures during the initial dose escalation phase by 61% from baseline, as compared to 33% for placebo, and during the maintenance phase of treatment by 82%, as compared to 43% for placebo.

The median percent decrease in PGTC seizures from baseline for the entire treatment period was 66% for Lamictal and 34% for the placebo group. In a sub-group analysis involving children and adolescents, Lamictal reduced the number of PGTC seizures from baseline by 77% during the entire treatment period as compared to 40% for placebo.

PGTC seizures, also referred to as “grand mal” seizures, usually occur without warning and are the most common form of generalized seizure type. People who experience PGTC seizures become stiff, lose consciousness and have no memory of the seizure. During a tonic-clonic seizure, patients may bite their tongue, salivate or become incontinent.

“The study shows that Lamictal may be effective as add-on therapy for treating PGTC seizures. Despite the fact that PGTC seizures are a more serious form of epilepsy, few studies have focused on these types of seizures exclusively,” said Dr Victor Biton, director of the Arkansas epilepsy program, Little Rock, Arkansas, and lead investigator of one of the studies. “These data offer promising news in our effort to understand how to best control these types of seizures where there are few therapies approved.”