Lacosamide may improve cognition in patients with focal epilepsy: EpiTrack to compare cognitive side effects of Lacosamide and Carbamazepine

Publication date: Available online 12 March 2018 Source:Epilepsy & Behavior Case Reports Author(s): Claudio Liguori, Francesca Izzi, Natalia Manfredi, Nicola Biagio Mercuri, Fabio Placidi Carbamazepine (CBZ) is a first generation antiepileptic-drug, considered as first choice therapy in focal epilepsy but associated with cognitive side effects. Lacosamide (LCM) is a third-generation antiepileptic-drug approved for treating focal epilepsy. This case series documented the comparable efficacy of LCM and CBZ as first add on treatments in patients affected by uncontrolled focal seizures, but LCM showed the increase in EpiTrack scores, which measure cognitive abilities, at follow-up compared to CBZ. This preliminary data may represent the basis for future prospective studies aimed at comparing the long-term cognitive side effects of LCM and CBZ.
Source: Epilepsy and Behavior Case Reports - Category: Neurology Source Type: research