Long term use of lamotrigine and vigabatrin in severe refractory epilepsy: audit of outcome

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The two open label trials in 128 patients (vigabatrin) and 125 patients (lamotrigine) were both described in detail in 1990.2 3 All patients had confirmed severe medically refractory epilepsy and were evaluated as inpatients or outpatients at the Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy or the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. After the trials the patients could continue the trial drugs, which were licensed in 1989 (vigabatrin) and 1991 (lamotrigine). By using hospital records and by contacting general practitioners, referring physicians, and the patients directly, we determined (a) how many patients were free of seizures, (b) how many were still taking the trial drug, and (c) how many had died. When appropriate the data on lamotrigine and vigabatrin were compared with the χ2 test.