Objective: (1) To determine the effect of lamotrigine add-on therapy on the seizure frequency and cost in paediatric patients. (2) To
determine the prescribing pattern of other antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).
Method: A retrospective study of medical records was carried out from October 2000 to June 2001 at the paediatric clinic, Hospital
Pulau Pinang.
Main outcome measure: Seizure frequency, cost of drug and types of AED prescribed.
Results: A total of 209 medical records were retrieved during the study period. Lamotrigine (LTG) was prescribed in 29 patients as
add-on therapy. In 18 patients, there was a significant reduction in seizure frequency after the addition of LTG. Approximately
70% experienced a reduction in seizure frequency of more than 50%. Side effects of LTG were considered mild and manageable.
However, drug cost after the addition of LTG increased by 103%. In the remaining 180 patients, the most common AED prescribed
was sodium valproate (VPA). Only 15% of the patients received combination therapy. Mean monthly cost of monotherapy was found
to be RM 24.4 while monthly cost of combination therapy was RM 45.4 (1 Euro–RM 5.00).
Conclusion: The majority of paediatric patients in the study are on AED monotherapy and only a small percentage was prescribed lamotrigine.
The use of lamotrigine is associated with better seizure control but with an increase in drug cost.
Keywords Anti-epileptic drugs - Children - Drug costs - Epilepsy - Lamotrigine - Malaysia - Prescribing pattern