Fracture Risk with Lacosamide and Levetiracetam

Fracture risk is higher in people with epilepsy than in the general population, in part because of enzyme-inducing antiseizure medications (ASMs). Less is known about fracture risk with other ASMs, particularly newer ones like lacosamide and levetiracetam (Figure 1).

In this retrospective study using electronic health record data, researchers compared 5-year fracture risk between 21,000 adults with epilepsy who initiated lacosamide monotherapy and an equal number who initiated levetiracetam. The two groups were similar with respect to age, comorbidities, prior fall history, and epilepsy type and severity.