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Lacosamide for the prevention of partial onset seizures in epileptic adults

Review

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Authors: Anna Kelemen, Péter Halász

Published Date July 2010 Volume 2010:6(1) Pages 465 - 471
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S7967

Anna Kelemen1, Péter Halász2

1National Institute of Neurosciences, Epilepsy Center, Budapest, Hungary; 2Faculty of Information Technology, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary

Abstract: Lacosamide is a newly registered antiepileptic drug with dual mechanisms of action. It selectively enhances slow inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels, resulting in stabilization of hyperexcitable neuronal membranes and inhibition of repetitive neuronal firing. It also binds to a collapsing-response mediator protein-2, CRMP2. Lacosamide has a favorable pharmacokinetic profile; is rapidly and completely absorbed, has a relatively long elimination half-life of 13 hours which allows twice-daily administration, linear pharmacokinetics, and has low potential for drug interactions and renal elimination. Both oral and intravenous formulations of lacosamide are being developed. In placebo-controlled clinical trials, lacosamide was effective in seizure reduction as adjunctive therapy in patients with uncontrolled partial-onset seizures. Lacosamide was generally well tolerated. The most frequently reported adverse events in placebo-controlled trials were dizziness, headache, nausea, and diplopia. Intravenous lacosamide has a comparably good safety profile.

Keywords: lacosamide, epilepsy, partial onset seizures