Get started
Work

Lamotrigine as an antiseizure medication in pregnancy

Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: AIM: To try to ascertain in APR data why lamotrigine was the preferred ASM in treating women with epilepsy, METHOD: Statistical analysis of foetal malformation and seizure free pregnancy occurrence rates associated with lamotrigine use in monotherapy and polytherapy RESULTS: Among commonly used ASMs, lamotrigine (4.6%) and levetiracetam (4.5%) in monotherapy had the lowest associated foetal malformation rates, compared with a 3.2% rate in ASM-untreated pregnancy in women with epilepsy. The lamotrigine monotherapy seizure freedom rate during pregnancy (56.6%) was lower than that associated with all other ASM monotherapy combined (68.7%; R.R. 1.21, 95% C.I. 1.12, 1.32). CONCLUSION: Those prescribing ASM therapy for women capable of pregnancy seem to have given priority to avoiding foetal malformation over achieving seizure freedom in pregnancy.
Source: Seizure
DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2026.02.001
Authors: Frank J.E. Vajda, Terence J. O’Brien, Janet E. Graham, Alison E. Hitchcock, Piero Perucca, Cecilie M. Lander, Mervyn J. Eadie
Institutions: The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Monash University, The Alfred Hospital, Alfred Health, Austin Hospital, Austin Health, The University of Queensland, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,970
OpenAlex ID: W7127118640
FWCI:
Cites: 16
Cited by:
Related to: