Levetiracetam vs. Lamotrigine in Women with Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy

Levetiracetam and lamotrigine are considered the least teratogenic among antiseizure medications (ASMs) that are effective for idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE), but little evidence is available to guide initial ASM selection in women of childbearing age. In a multicenter, retrospective cohort study including 543 women with IGE who received either levetiracetam or lamotrigine as initial monotherapy, investigators assessed time from ASM prescription to treatment failure due to ineffectiveness or adverse effects. Two authors report receiving fees from the manufacturer of levetiracetam for work unrelated to the study.

Compared with lamotrigine use, levetiracetam use was associated with lower risk for treatment failure and a higher likelihoo…