Lamotrigine (LTG) is an anti-epileptic
drug effective in
partial seizures and
generalized epilepsy. There is growing evidence of the usefulness of LTG in childhood (CAE) orjuvenile (JAE) absences resistant to previous treatment. In this study all patients were identified using strict diagnostic criteria and subdivided into two groups. (1) Eight patients affected by absence
seizures resistant to
valproic acid or
ethosuximide, received LTG as an-add-on
therapy, (2) seven patients affected by typical absence
seizures not previously treated, received LTG monotherapy after the diagnosis. In the patients with resistant absence
seizures, a full control of
seizures was obtained. In five of them, after a mean period of 12.5 months, the previous anti-epileptic drugs were withdrawn leaving the patients on LTG monotherapy. In one patient, absences relapsed and
valproic acid was therefore added again to LTG to regain control of the
seizures. In six of the seven patients on LTG monotherapy after the diagnosis, a full control of
seizures was obtained. In the seventh patient the
drug was stopped due to a
skin rash. In conclusion LTG appears to be effective in resistant absence
seizures in combination with
valproic acid. Moreover, our preliminary data suggest that
lamotrigine might be used as monotherapy in typical absence
seizures. The advantages and disadvantages of LTG monotherapy in this type of
epilepsy are discussed.