Stable weight during lamotrigine therapy: A review of 32 studies

Devinsky, Orrin MD
Vuong, Alain
Hammer, Anne
Barrett, Pamela S. PharmD

From the Department of Neurology (Dr. Devinsky), New York University Medical Center, and Glaxo Wellcome Inc. (A. Vuong, P.S. Barrett, and A. Hammer), Research Triangle Park, NC.

Received March 20, 1999.

Accepted in final form October 11, 1999.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Orrin Devinsky, NYU–Mt. Sinai Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, 560 First Avenue, Rivergate 4th Floor, New York, NY 10016.

Neurology 54(4):p 973, February 22, 2000.

Article abstract

A side effect associated with the use of some antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) is change in body weight. To evaluate the effect of lamotrigine on body weight in adult patients with epilepsy, we conducted a retrospective review of data from 463 patients treated with lamotrigine in 32 clinical trials. Mean daily dose was 259 (±155) mg and duration of therapy was 318 (±87) days. The mean change in body weight was 0.5 (±5) kg. Lamotrigine was associated with stable body weight in patients with epilepsy.