A Comparison of the Effects of Lamotrigine and Levetiracetam and Lamotrigine and Valproate Sodium in Patients with Epilepsy
January 2016
TLDR Levetiracetam and valproate sodium both reduce seizures when added to lamotrigine, but levetiracetam has fewer side effects.
In a study from 2016 involving 200 patients aged 14 to 75 with refractory epilepsy, the effects of adding levetiracetam or valproate sodium to lamotrigine therapy were compared. Both add-on treatments were effective in reducing the frequency and duration of seizures. However, levetiracetam was associated with fewer and more transient side effects such as dizziness, insomnia, and somnolence, while valproate sodium caused additional side effects including hypersensitivity, hair loss, tremor, and weight gain. Moreover, valproate sodium was linked to changes in liver enzymes in four cases, unlike levetiracetam. The study concluded that both levetiracetam and valproate sodium are effective in improving the lives of individuals with epilepsy that is resistant to lamotrigine monotherapy.