Lamictal (Glaxo Smith Kline) one of superior drug combination for treating Epilepsy

A combination of two drugs, Lamictal (lamotrigine), from Glaxo Smith Kline, and valproate, is more effective in treating difficult-to control Epilepsy than other anti-epileptic regimens. This large-scale, retrospective study of a population of patients with very difficult-to-control Epilepsy revealed that only the Lamictal/valproate treatment regimen, out of the 32 drug combinations studied, significantly decreased seizure frequency in this group. This specific combination reduced seizure frequency by about half, on average, compared to other regimens. Although it rarely produced complete freedom from seizures, the combination was superior to others in reducing the number of convulsive seizures patients experienced. According to lead researcher Nicholas P. Poolos, a University of Washington associate professor of neurology, physicians have little evidence to guide them on which drugs or drug combinations, from a multitude of possibilities, might be of most help for patients with difficult-to-treat epilepsy so identifying any anti-epileptic drug regimen with superior efficacy would be a substantial advance. The researchers also were surprised to find that while concurrent use of two anti-epileptic drugs was more effective than a single drug alone, three drugs at a time offered no additional benefits. Limiting the combination to two may lessen side effects from taking more kinds of anti-epileptic drugs, without sacrificing efficacy. The study was published in Neurology.