LAMOTRIGINE - PRELIMINARY CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS ON PHARMACOKINETICS AND INTERACTIONS WITH TRADITIONAL ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUGS

Findings on pharmacokinetics of lamotrigine (LTG) and its interaction with other antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in realistic clinical conditions are reported. LTG kinetics are typically influenced by other AEDs, and its dosing has to be carefully adapted to comedication. A frequent slight increase of carbamazepine (CBZ) epoxide levels is the only influence of LTG on kinetics of another AED that has been observed. Valproic acid in combination with LTG requires lower doses than with other AEDs. If therapeutically effective, LTG seems to act at low levels already, and its tolerance until now seems to be excellent. However, in combination with CBZ, cerebellar intolerance may be caused by pharmacodynamic interactions.