Monotherapy with Lamotrigine in patients with Alzheimer's disease and seizures

• Published in: American journal of Alzheimer's disease Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 74 - 79
• Main Authors: Tsolaki, Magda, Kourtis, Anastasios, Divanoglou, Daniel, Bostanzopoulou, Maria, Kazis, Aristides
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA SAGE Publications 01.03.2000
• Subjects: lamotrigine
• ISSN: 1082-5207; 1533-3175
• DOI: 10.1177/153331750001500209

We used Lamotrigine LTG (50-600mg /24h) in 12 patients, 58-to 95-years-old (A Group) and other antiepileptics in nine patients (B Group) with the diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) and seizures. We also administered LTG (50-700mg/24h) in 16 patients (C Group) and other antiepileptics in nine patients (D Group) with other neurological disorders with cognitive disorders and seizures. The results showed that in eight from 12 patients with AD, and in nine from 16 with other neurological disorders, seizures stopped after treatment with LTG—while in five from nine patients with AD and six from 18 with other neurological disorders, seizures stopped after treatment with other antiepileptic drugs. Side effects in 28 patients treated with LTG included only three mild rashes, while side effects in 18 patients treated with other antiepileptic drugs included—six patients with fatigue, two with rashes, one with dizziness, one with low platelets, one with sleepiness and one with loss of hair. Conclusively, this study shows that LTG is an effective and safe monotherapy in patients with cognitive disorders and AD.