Therapeutical potential of lamotrigine in the therapy of childhood epilepsy. A review

Lamotrigine (LTG) has been applied as a broad-spectrum AE in children above 2 years of age since 2002. It is indicated for add-on therapy of epilepsies with partial and generalized seizures, including tonic-clonic seizures and seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut's syndrome (LGS). After managing seizures by means of a combined therapy, simultaneous application of other antielpileptic drugs (AEDs) may be terminated and LTG monotherapy continues. Since 2005 LTG has been also indicated as monotherapy for typical absence seizures. In children and adolescents over 12 years of age, the indication spectrum is the same as that in adults. Childhood epilepsy, if compared with adult age, has got a number of specific features - distinct metabolism of AEs, different spectrum of seizures, incidence of epileptic syndromes linked to age and development, more types of seizures within one epilepsy, and potentially negative influence of non-compensated seizures and adverse effects (AE) of AEs on cognitive profile, behavior and development of a young patient. The report has given evidence of LTG effects on seizures and its acceptable tolerability in childhood. There are mentioned methods of how to avoid the most serious AE and unfavourable drug interactions. It does not substitute a Summary of information about the preparation (SIP).