Effect of lamictal (lamotrigin) on the quality of life in epileptic patients after four-month therapy

Epilepsy and drugs used in its treatment can have significant impact on the patient’ s life. Because of its unique mechanism of action, Lamictal does not impair development of cognitive function and causes less central nervous system side effects. The aim of this multicentre prospective follow-up study was to assess the effect of 4-month Lamictal therapy on the quality of life modification in epileptic patients. The secondary aim of the study was to assess the patient’ s satisfaction with the treatment. The study included 63 patients of both sexes (30 men) older than 18 years, with the diagnosis of epilepsy, who had not been treated with Lamictal and had experienced at least one episode of epileptic seizure during the preceding year. Quality of life was evaluated by a standardized questionnaire for quality of life assessment in epileptics, QOLIE 31, distributed on the first visit when Lamictal was introduced, and 4 months after its introduction. Statistical analysis was done by use of t-test for dependent samples to compare the quality of life before and 4 months of therapy introduction, and analysis of variance for independent variables. At 4 months of Lamictal therapy, considerable improvement in the quality of life was recorded on the basis of total score(SD) (60.4[17.0]:50.3[19.7] ; p<0.001) and other QOLIE 31 questionnaire subscales, except for the subscale of medication effects. Changes in the emotional subscale(r = 2.28, p<0.05) showed significant dose dependence (50-500 mg), and high dosage had a more significant effect on the results of subscales on concern for seizures, general quality of life, and cognitive functions (p<0.05 ; analysis of variance). Nineteen patients appraised the treatment as very satisfactory, 39 as satisfactory, and 4 as unsatisfactory. It is concluded that Lamictal used in a broad spectrum of doses during a 4-month period significantly improved the quality of life in epileptic patients.