Lacosamide monotherapy in clinical practice: A retrospective chart review

Objective To assess effectiveness and tolerability of first‐line and conversion to lacosamide monotherapy for focal seizures. Materials and Methods Retrospective, non‐interventional chart review of lacosamide monotherapy patients aged ≥16 years in Europe. Outcomes included retention rate at observational point (OP) 3 (12 ± 3 months), seizure freedom rates at OP2 (6 ± 3 months) and OP3 and adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Results A total of 439 patients were included (98 first‐line and 341 conversion to monotherapy; 128 aged ≥65 years [25 first‐line and 103 conversion to monotherapy]). First‐line and conversion to monotherapy retention rates were 60.2% (59/98; 95% confidence interval [CI] 49.8%‐70.0%) and 62.5% (213/341; 57.1%‐67.6%), respectively. Kaplan‐Meier estimates of 12‐month retention rates were 81.2% and 91.4% for first‐line and conversion to monotherapy, respectively. First‐line and conversion to monotherapy retention rates in patients aged ≥65 years were 60.0% (38.7%‐78.9%) and 68.9% (59.1%‐77.7%), respectively. At OP2, 66.3% of first‐line and 63.0% of conversion to monotherapy patients were seizure free. At OP3, 60.2% of first‐line and 52.5% of conversion to monotherapy patients were seizure free. In the ≥65 years subgroup, seizure freedom rates at OP2 were 72.0% and 68.0% for first‐line and converted to monotherapy, respectively, and at OP3, 68.0% and 56.3%, respectively. Overall, 52 of 439 (11.8%) patients reported ADRs (16.4% in ≥65 years subgroup), most commonly dizziness (5.0%), headache (2.1%) and somnolence (1.6%). Conclusions Lacosamide was effective and well tolerated as first‐line or conversion to monotherapy in a clinical setting in adult and elderly patients with focal seizures.