This is from April of 2009—

UCLA Team Reports Initial Success with Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation

In an article in volume 72, page 936 of the April 2009 journal, Neurology, Christopher DeGiorgio and colleagues report results of stimulating the trigeminal nerve on the forehead to control seizures. The advantage over vagus nerve stimulation is ability to stimulate noninvasively through the skin of the forehead to test response to therapy. If it helps, then stimulators can be implanted under the skin. At 3 months, 12 subjects showed reduction of average seizure frequency from a baseline of 2.1 seizures/day to 0.71 seizures/day, a 66% reduction. A controlled study with a placebo group is being planned, supported by the Epilepsy Therapy Project and other agencies.

This is from three days ago—

New Device Reduces Seizures, No Surgery Required

A experimental device that delivers electrical pulses to the forehead can help control epileptic seizures, say scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The device works by stimulating the trigeminal nerve, which runs just beneath the skin covering the eyebrows. Electrical signals follow that nerve to areas in the brain where seizures often begin, researchers say.

The approach, which is not yet approved by the FDA, could offer an alternative or enhancement to treatment with drugs, says Christopher DeGiorgio, the neurologist at UCLA who invented the new approach.

"Medications can cause mood problems, fatigue or problems with thinking for some people," DeGiorgio says. "I see this as an alternative because it doesn't cause those side effects."

About 3 million Americans have epilepsy, and for about one-third of them, drugs alone do not control their seizures. A study of 50 people with drug-resistant epilepsy found that the trigeminal nerve stimulator was able to greatly reduce seizures for about 40 percent of them.

 

 

New Epilepsy Foundation Website Launches in August

After much anticipation, the Epilepsy Foundation launches its new and improved website in August. The site will have a new look, streamlined navigation, enhanced technologies and a new e-communities design to support our growing online community of 15,000. The new site will link to new Facebook pages and Twitter feeds and will include a newly redesigned online store.

With new research content, features and tools, the site will empower us to lead the fight to stop seizures, find a cure, and overcome the challenges created by epilepsy.

 

 

New Campaign Shines Light on Epilepsy's Dark Secret

The kick-start for the campaign has been made possible by a grant in honor of Eric Patrick Wulchin of Boulder, Colo., who would have turned 21 on May 13. Eric's father says, "Our son died of SUDEP 2 years ago, at age 19. Sadly, only after his death did we learn of SUDEP. That's not acceptable. From here on patients, their families and advocacy groups have to work to force the issue. My wife, Eric's brother and I are deeply appreciative of the fact that others are now rallying behind making SUDEP a public priority."

 

This is from JAMA, and this is good news...

Newer-Generation Antiepileptic Drugs and the Risk of Major Birth Defects

Context— Epilepsy during pregnancy is a therapeutic challenge. Since the 1990s, the number of licensed antiepileptic drugs has substantially increased, but safety data on first-trimester use of newer-generation antiepileptic drugs and birth defects are limited.

Objective— To study the association between fetal exposure to newer-generation antiepileptic drugs during the first trimester of pregnancy and the risk of major birth defects.

Conclusion— Among live-born infants in Denmark, first-trimester exposure to lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, gabapentin, or levetiracetam compared with no exposure was not associated with an increased risk of major birth defects.

 

 

Managing Students with Seizures- A Training for School Nurses

We know how much you care about helping people with epilepsy. We want you to know there is a place for YOU to help support the Epilepsy Foundation's 2011 National Walk for Epilepsy. Join us in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, March 27, 2011

Epilepsy Therapy Project and Epilepsy Dot Com Launch "My Epilepsy Diary" as New Android Mobile App to Improve Epilepsy Care

Self-Management and Reporting Tool Represents New Generation of Patient Management and Communications

Washington, DC, January 17, 2011 - The Epilepsy Therapy Project (ETP), a non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating new therapies for people living with epilepsy and seizures and the parent organization of Epilepsy Dot Com, today announced that it has expanded the use of its online epilepsy diary management tool with the launch of a new app developed to run on the Android mobile operating system. "My Epilepsy Diary" is a comprehensive data-gathering and reporting tool designed to advance epilepsy care by improving the quality, accuracy and speed in which information can be recorded and shared between patients with epilepsy and their physicians. Now available at no charge through the Android Market and on Epilepsy Dot Com, the My Epilepsy Diary app is yet another critical step forward by the Epilepsy Therapy Project to provide people with epilepsy with state-of-the-art tools to better manage their epilepsy with the currently available treatment options, while accelerating therapeutic advances for people living with epilepsy.


Introducing My Epilepsy Diary

Just create a My Epilepsy Diary profile. Whenever you experience a seizure, side effect, mood change, or other personal event related to your epilepsy, log onto My Epilepsy Diary from your browser or smart phone. Record what happened and fill in the details quickly using the many common situations My Epilepsy Diary already provides.

My Epilepsy Diary also helps you track all your medications and dosages, even for non-epilepsy medications and vitamins. You can even set up email or text reminders to take your medications!

Before your doctor's appointment, simply print out a report. My Epilepsy Diary provides your doctor a complete, organized, and easy-to-read record of your recent epilepsy history, as well as long-term trends that show how effective your treatment has been and whether it may need to be changed.

No more forgotten details. No more complicated record keeping. No more trouble remembering your medications. My Epilepsy Diary makes managing your epilepsy, or your loved one's epilepsy, fast and easy.

 

BMC Psychiatry. 2009; 9: 63.
Published online 2009 September 30.

Symptoms of epilepsy and organic brain dysfunctions in patients with acute, brief depression combined with other fluctuating psychiatric symptoms: a controlled study from an acute psychiatric department

Abstract:

Background
In psychiatric acute departments some patients present with brief depressive periods accompanied with fluctuating arrays of other psychiatric symptoms like psychosis, panic or mania. For the purpose of the present study we call this condition Acute Unstable Depressive Syndrome (AUDS). The aims of the present study were to compare clinical signs of organic brain dysfunctions and epilepsy in patients with AUDS and Major Depressive Episode (MDE).

Methods
Out of 1038 consecutive patients admitted to a psychiatric acute ward, 16 patients with AUDS and 16 age- and gender-matched MDE patients were included in the study. Using standardized instruments and methods we recorded clinical data, EEG and MRI.

Results
A history of epileptic seizures and pathologic EEG activity was more common in the AUDS group than in the MDE group (seizures, n = 6 vs. 0, p = 0.018; pathologic EEG activity, n = 8 vs. 1, p = 0.015). Five patients in the AUDS group were diagnosed as having epilepsy, whereas none of those with MDE had epilepsy (p = 0.043). There were no differences between the groups regarding pathological findings in neurological bedside examination and cerebral MRI investigation.

Conclusion
Compared to patients admitted with mood symptoms fulfilling DSM 4 criteria of a major depressive disorder, short-lasting atypical depressive symptoms seem to be associated with a high frequency of epileptic and pathologic EEG activity in patients admitted to psychiatric acute departments.

The fourth annual National Walk for Epilepsy will be held in Washington, D.C. on the National Mall, Saturday, March 27, 2010.

Epilepsy is the third most-common neurological condition after alzheimer's disease and stroke and affects more than three million Americans, but few people know that it can affect anyone, anywhere at any time. The Epilepsy Foundation, a national voluntary health organization established in 1968, works to ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; to improve how people with epilepsy are perceived, accepted and valued in society; and to promote research for a cure.

Register Today for the Fourth Annual National Walk for Epilepsy

Here is data about sleep from a fantastic website hosted by one of the best medical facilities in the USA—

NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center

Improving Sleep
For people who have problems falling asleep and staying asleep, some simple measures may be helpful:

 

• Make sure the sleeping environment is quiet and dark
• Use the bed only to sleep
• Go to bed only when sleepy
• Get out of bed every day at the same time
• Do NOT take naps
• Avoid caffeinated beverages within 6 hours of going to sleep
• Exercise daily but do not exercise shortly before going to sleep

 

 kysmet wrote: 

Just to be clear, when I mentioned benzodiazepine, I was talking about your prescription for Alprazolam, which is a drug of the benzodiazepine class...  these are effective anticonvulsants...

as far as Benadryl is concerned, it is diphenhydramine, and you should be careful using it... data is inconclusive, but several people suggest that diphenhydramine hydrochloride can activate epileptiform EEG patterns and provoke clinical seizures... for example—

A few medicines that you pick up off the shelf at the drug store can potentially increase the frequency of seizures in people with epilepsy, or even cause first-time seizures. The most common one of this kind is probably diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in medications like Benadryl, which is used for colds, allergies, and to promote sleep. If you have epilepsy, you should talk to your doctor before you use it.

So you should talk to your neurologist about Benadryl...  of course, I am not in the medical field...

 romeotuma wrote: 
I hardly ever take any Benadryl-type drug.  I rarely need to since I keep my allergies under control with Nasonex.  If I get a cold, I load up on Zycam.

 kysmet wrote: 

Do you take the benzodiazepine when you start feeling strange, or have an aura?  I know others who use it on the spot for those kinds of symptoms...  don't worry about Lamictal—  I have heard a neurologist describe it specifically as a "clean" drug, which means minimum interactions...  as I said, I don't know how valid this website really is, so take the data with a grain of salt, so to speak...  I just posted it because I think it is worth examining... and I found that statement about "Lamictal binds to the histamine receptors; it does not let Benadryl bind..." fascinating...

 romeotuma wrote: 
Yikes!  I take Lamictal and I have a script for alprazolam but I hardly ever have to take that.  I take .50 to 2 mg as needed, which is far less frequent than before I was on Lamictal.  I've only taken it a few times since and haven't had an issue but this is good to know.

Lamictal and Diphenhydramine


I don't know how valid this is, but it is very interesting, particularly this quote from the second post—  "Both drugs seem to be histamine antagonists. This means that they bind to the histamine receptors in your brain and cause a sedating effect. Because Lamictal binds to the histamine receptors, it does not let Benadryl bind and so the levels of Benadryl in your blood become higher than they should, resulting in a severe sedative effect."

11-11-2007, 01:42 AM 
kjcanada1979 
New Member   
 
 Lamictal and Diphenhydramine

————————————————————————————————————————

I currently take Lamictal for my Epilepsy. I just started it about 5 weeks ago. One week into taking it I was having sleepless nights. I had been up for two nights in a row and was so tired. My dad suggested I take an OTC sleep aid and try to get some sleep. So I bought some Sominex. Which is pure Diphenhydramine. I took two pills and ended up falling asleep. When I woke up, I couldnt move my body, the only thing that would move a little bit was my right hand. I was able to text and tell my dad to call 911, I couldnt speak either. I looked at myself and saw that I was having convulsions. The ambulance arrived and took me to the hospital. It was a horrible experience!! I was scared to death. In the ambulance I nearly quit breathing. I could feel my heart slowing down and couldnt breath. Ive taken sominex before...so i didnt think it was a big deal. I am also on Keppra, Zonegran, Cymbalta and Synthroid.

 

11-14-2007, 12:34 PM 
empresspyro 
New Member    
 
 This happened to me too!

————————————————————————————————————————

Luckily not as scary and as serious as what happened to you. But I took Benadryl last night. I currently take 100mg of Lamictal daily and 25mg of Paxil. I had really bad allergies last night and took 2 Benadryl (50mg). I could not get out of bed. And I could barely move. When I did get up I tried driving to work but failed miserably and decided to turn back before I had an accident.
I called my doctor and he explained that the two drugs might have had an interaction and Lamictal may have caused the levels of Benadryl to rise in my blood. I'm still pretty lethargic and it's been over 12 hours since I took the Benadryl.

Both drugs seem to be histamine antagonists. This means that they bind to the histamine receptors in your brain and cause a sedating effect. Because Lamictal binds to the histamine receptors, it does not let Benadryl bind and so the levels of Benadryl in your blood become higher than they should, resulting in a severe sedative effect. When I googled lamictal + benadryl I stumbled upon your post and a post on another site of a person that uses the combo recreationally!  My recommendation to you is to stay away from Benadryl!

And this is interesting material at another link at the same website—

A total of 456 drugs (3056 brand and generic names) are known to interact with Lamictal (lamotrigine).

Foundation Stops Forced Switching of Medications

Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Iowa recently sent a letter to their members taking Topamax, Keppra and Lamictal.  The letter states that "...users of brand name medications who switch to generic name medications... may experience epileptic events requiring medical care."  As a result, they have revised their policy so members do not have to pay the difference between brand name and the generic for the above listed medications.

This change is a victory for Epilepsy Foundation advocacy.  We are writing to Wellmark to express our appreciation and for placing patient safety ahead of profit.  We are also asking other insurance companies and retail chain drug stores to (a) discontinue using financial incentives to switch medications and (b) allow doctors and patients to choose the most appropriate treatment option.  Have you had problems when switching to a generic medication?  Please contact Joseph LaMountain at jlamountain@efa.org with the word "Switching" in the subject line of your message.

 romeotuma wrote: 
It was mostly a piece to feature the Axelrod family, and I felt like I was left hanging at the end, so I am glad it wasn't just me.

60 Minutes - October 25, 2009 - Epilepsy: A Fight For The Cure

I am amazed at how bad this episode really is...  it is really shocking how horrific a journalist Katie Couric truly is in this episode...  there are obvious indications of shoddy journalism from just the title—  for example, who are they fighting?  What does a cure for epilepsy have to do with fighting?

They offer no cure— not even a suggestion of any genuine cure... the title is pure fiction...

Katie Couric does not even learn enough about the subject to distinguish between generalized and localized epilepsy...  her report sounds like a high school essay that would be graded with a C...  it is stunning how pathetic this episode really is...

It is really sad what happened to Ian Curtis...  Curtis hanged himself in his kitchen on May 18, 1980...  his epilepsy was pretty much out of control... there are some theories that the strobe lights were causing him to have seizures onstage...

Vimpat(R) offers hope to people with epilepsy who still have uncontrolled partial onset seizures with current treatment

May 26, 2009

- New antiepileptic drug with novel mechanism of action helps address critical unmet medical need for many people living with uncontrolled epilepsy

ATLANTA, May 26 /PRNewswire/ — press release, regulated information - UCB today announced that Vimpat(R) (lacosamide) C-V, a new antiepileptic drug (AED) is available in the U.S. as an add-on therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in people with epilepsy who are 17 years and older. Vimpat(R) will be available in U.S. pharmacies by the first week of June 2009.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/vimpat/34012/

"The availability of Vimpat(R) in the U.S. is an important milestone for people living with epilepsy and for UCB," said Rich Denness, Vice-President and General Manager CNS U.S., UCB. "Bringing Vimpat(R) to U.S. patients underscores UCB's commitment to the epilepsy community and UCB's leadership position in this disease state."

Epilepsy affects approximately 6 million people in the U.S., Japan, U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Spain, and it can strike anyone at anytime.

"Vimpat(R) provides new hope in helping patients move closer to the goal of seizure freedom," said Steven S. Chung, MD, Director of Clinical Epilepsy Research at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. "Vimpat(R) can help patients across the treatment paradigm, from those recently diagnosed who have not achieved seizure control on current therapy, to those who have tried a variety of medications and are still suffering from frequent seizures."

The unmet medical need

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder that can be life long, and is difficult to control with a single drug:

— In a study of 525 people with epilepsy, less than half (47%) attained seizure control with the first AED — More than 30% of patients will continue to experience seizures despite trying two or more AEDs

"Vimpat(R) has a novel mechanism of action, and has been studied in combination with multiple AEDs as well as several commonly used medications with no clinically significant pharmacokinetic drug interactions observed in clinical trials. This demonstrates the importance and potential utility of including Vimpat(R) in partial onset epilepsy treatment regimens," said Kathleen Bos, MD, vice-president, medical affairs, U.S., UCB.

While treatment with one drug remains the goal of AED therapy and provides adequate control to many patients, almost 40% of patients with epilepsy receive suboptimal seizure control on monotherapy. In these situations, a physician may prescribe different treatments until one is found to provide adequate seizure control for the patient.

However, some studies indicate that when primary therapy is well-tolerated, but does not provide adequate seizure control, adding an additional AED to the current one provides more seizure control than continually switching therapies.

Vimpat(R) approval based on clinical trials with approximately 1,300 patients

The approval of Vimpat(R) is based on efficacy and safety data from one Phase II and two Phase III clinical trials with approximately 1,300 adults with epilepsy who had uncontrolled partial-onset seizures. Before adding Vimpat(R), patients experienced a median baseline seizure frequency ranging from 10 to 17 seizures per month, despite being on one to three other AEDs; and 45.2 percent of patients had previously tried seven or more AEDs to control their seizures.

In the studies, patients taking Vimpat at 200 and 400 mg/day experienced a median percent reduction in seizure frequency per 28 days of 33.3% and 36.8%, respectively, versus only 18.4% reduction in the placebo group. Additionally, 34.1% and 39.7% of patients taking Vimpat at 200 and 400 mg/day, respectively, experienced greater than or equal to 50% reduction in seizure frequency versus only 22.6% in the placebo group.

Patients randomized to Vimpat(R) also experienced improvement in seizure freedom rates, compared with placebo. Across the pivotal trials, 3.3% of patients randomized to 400 mg/day of Vimpat(R) were seizure free throughout the 12-week maintenance phase, vs. 0.9% of placebo patients. Seizure free days increased by 8% with 200 mg/day of Vimpat(R) and by 12% with 400 mg/day of Vimpat(R), compared with 6% for placebo.

Patients began experiencing a reduction in seizures during the titration phase and maintained or had improved seizure control throughout the studies. The most common adverse events (>10 percent in the Vimpat(R)-treated group and greater than placebo) reported in these trials included dizziness, headache, nausea, and diplopia. More than half of the patients completing the clinical trials opted to continue treatment, some for longer than five years.

Vimpat(R) demonstrated efficacy and tolerability when combined with a broad range of existing AEDs, and also provided efficacy regardless of the number of concomitant AEDs. Vimpat was also studied with several commonly used medications, including digoxin, metformin, omeprazole, and an oral contraceptive (containing 0.03 mg ethinylestradiol and 0.15 mg levonorgetstrel).

Vimpat(R) dosing should start at 50 mg twice daily and may be increased to a daily dose of 200 to 400 mg per day (recommended therapeutic dosing) administered in two divided doses. Vimpat(R) is available as oral tablets and as an intravenous (IV) infusion to allow for consistent treatment in an emergency room or hospital setting. These formulations are bioequivalent, meaning doses do not need to be adjusted when converting from IV to oral. The IV formulation of Vimpat(R) does not require dilution prior to administration.

Vimpat(R) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in October 2008 for the adjunctive treatment of partial onset seizures in patients with epilepsy age 17 and over. Vimpat(R) has been designated as a Schedule V controlled substance by U.S. regulators.

In August 2008, the European Commission approved Vimpat(R) for the adjunctive treatment of partial onset seizures with or without secondary generalization in patients with epilepsy age 16 and over. Vimpat(R) is available in Germany, the U.K., Greece, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, and Netherlands, with other European countries to follow.

Vimpat(R) offers new way of targeting pathways involved in seizure onset

Preclinical studies indicate that Vimpat(R) has a novel mechanism of action, although the precise mechanism by which Vimpat(R) exerts its antiepileptic effect in humans is not yet clear.

In preclinical studies, the mechanism of action for Vimpat(R) has been shown to involve the modulation of sodium channel activity in the nervous system. Sodium channels play a crucial role in regulating the activity of the nervous system to help nerve cells communicate. Sometimes sodium channels are abnormally overactive and nerve cells become too excited, which may produce a seizure. The mechanism of action for Vimpat(R) is thought to reduce this sodium channel over-activity by enhancing the longer lasting inactive state of the channel, a different action compared with current sodium channel blocking drugs. This action then regulates the activity of over-excited nerve cells, which may contribute to the control of seizures.

Preclinical studies also suggest that Vimpat(R) binds to the collapsin response mediator protein-2 (CRMP-2), an important target that affects the way that nerves differentiate and grow. The precise nature of the interaction between Vimpat(R) and CRMP-2 and between CRMP-2 and seizure control is not known.

About Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder affecting approximately 50 million people worldwide and three million people in the U.S.—making it more common than multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease combined. It is caused by abnormal, excessive electrical discharges of the nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain. Epilepsy is characterized by a tendency to have recurrent seizures and defined by two or more unprovoked seizures. There are many different seizure types and epileptic syndromes. Roughly 20-30 percent of people living with epilepsy have either uncontrolled seizures or significant side effects secondary to medication. This highlights the ongoing need for the development of new AEDs. For more information about epilepsy, visit www.epilepsyadvocate.com and www.livebeyondepilepsy.com.

Further information Antje Witte, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, UCB T +32.2.559.9414, antje.witte@ucb.com Nancy Nackaerts, External Communications, UCB T +32.2.559.9264, nancy.nackaerts@ucb.com Eric Miller, Corporate Communications U.S., UCB T +1.770.970.8569, eric.miller@ucb.com Andrea Levin, Public Relations Manager U.S., CNS, UCB T +1.770.970.8352, andrea.levin@ucb.com

About UCB

UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the research, development and commercialization of innovative medicines with a focus on the fields of central nervous system and immunology disorders. Employing approx. 10 000 people in over 40 countries, UCB achieved revenues of 3.6 billion Euro in 2008. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB).

Forward looking statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current plans, estimates and beliefs of management. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those that may be implied by such forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Important factors that could result in such differences include: changes in general economic, business and competitive conditions, effects of future judicial decisions, changes in regulation, exchange rate fluctuations and hiring and retention of its employees.

Important safety information about Vimpat(R) in the U.S.

Vimpat(R) (lacosamide) is a medicine that is used with other medicines to treat partial onset seizures in patients 17 years of age and older with epilepsy. Vimpat(R) is generally well-tolerated, but may not be for everyone. Patients should discuss with their doctor if Vimpat(R) is right for them.

The most common side effects with Vimpat(R) are dizziness, headache, nausea and blurred vision. Vimpat(R) may also cause problems with coordination and balance. Patients should not drive, operate machinery or do other dangerous activities until they know how Vimpat(R) affects them. Patients should not stop taking Vimpat(R) without first talking to their doctor. Stopping Vimpat(R) suddenly can cause serious problems. Vimpat(R) could make patients feel faint. Patients should tell their doctor if they have a heart condition or if they are taking other medicines that affect the heart. In rare cases, Vimpat(R) may cause reactions that could affect the heart, liver or kidney. The patient should contact their doctor immediately if they are tired, have jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes), and have dark urine. Antiepileptic drugs, including Vimpat(R), may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500. Patients should call their healthcare provider right away if they have new or worsening symptoms of depression, any unusual changes in mood or behavior, or suicidal thoughts, behavior, or thoughts about self harm that they have never had before or may be worse than before. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact UCB, Inc. at 866-822-0068 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Please see additional patient information including the Vimpat(R) Medication Guide at the end of the full prescribing information on www.Vimpat.com.

Important safety information about Vimpat(R) in Europe

Vimpat(R) is indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures with or without secondary generalisation in patients with epilepsy aged 16 years and older. Vimpat(R) solution for infusion is an alternative for patients when oral administration is temporarily not feasible. Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to peanuts or soya or to any of the excipients; known second- or third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block. Special warnings and precautions for use: Treatment with lacosamide has been associated with dizziness which could increase the occurrence of accidental injury or falls. Therefore, patients should be advised to exercise caution until they are familiar with the potential effects of the medicine. Prolongations in PR interval with lacosamide have been observed in clinical studies. Lacosamide should be used with caution in patients with known conduction problems or severe cardiac disease such as a history of myocardial infarction or heart failure. Caution should especially be exerted when treating elderly patients as they may be at an increased risk of cardiac disorders or when lacosamide is used in combination with products known to be associated with PR prolongation. Suicidal ideation and behaviour have been reported in patients treated with anti-epileptic agents. Therefore patients should be monitored for signs of suicidal ideation and behaviours and appropriate treatment should be considered. Patients (and caregivers of patients) should be advised to seek medical advice should signs of suicidal ideation or behaviour emerge. Undesirable effects: The most common adverse reactions (>10%) are dizziness, headache, diplopia, and nausea. Other common adverse reactions (1-10%) are depression, balance disorder, coordination abnormal, memory impairment, cognitive disorder, somnolence, tremor, nystagmus, vision blurred, vertigo, vomiting, constipation, flatulence, pruritus, gait disturbance, asthenia, fatigue, fall, and skin laceration. Refer to the European Summary of Product Characteristics for full prescribing information. http://www.emea.europa.eu/humandocs/PDFs/EPAR/vimpat/H-863-PI-en.pdf (Accessed 02.03.09)

SOURCE UCB  — 05/27/2009