Lamotrigine as an antiseizure medication in pregnancy

Abstract

Aim To try to ascertain in APR data why lamotrigine was the preferred ASM in treating women with epilepsy, Method Statistical analysis of foetal malformation and seizure free pregnancy occurrence rates associated with lamotrigine use in monotherapy and polytherapy Results Among commonly used ASMs, lamotrigine (4.6%) and levetiracetam (4.5%) in monotherapy had the lowest associated foetal malformation rates, compared with a 3.2% rate in ASM-untreated pregnancy in women with epilepsy. The lamotrigine monotherapy seizure freedom rate during pregnancy (56.6%) was lower than that associated with all other ASM monotherapy combined (68.7%; R.R. 1.21, 95% C.I. 1.12, 1.32). Conclusion Those prescribi..