The adverse-effect profile of lacosamide

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Lacosamide has been used in epilepsy patients in the United States, Europe and Asia since it was approved by the FDA in 2008. Many patients have benefited from this drug as a new generation of sodium channel blocker. With the worldwide use of this drug, its adverse effects have gradually emerged, especially some rare adverse events.

Areas covered: The present review aims to summarize the adverse effects of lacosamide reported in the literature in recent years to promote the safe clinical application of the drug.

Expert opinion: In more than 10 years of experience in drug usage, adverse reactions of lacosamide have also been gradually discovered. The review showed that lacosamide is safe and effective in antiepileptic treatment, and its common side effects are dizziness, headache, drowsiness, diplopia, and cardiovascular abnormalities. Skin rashes, hematotoxicity and heart damage, psychological symptoms and suicide risk have also been reported and emphasized.

KEYWORDS:

• Adverse effect
• anti-epileptic drug
• lacosamide
• safety
• sodium channel blocker

Author contributions

JY Li: design and conceptualized study; major role in the acquisition of data; revised the manuscript for intellectual content. MZ Sun Meizhen: major role in the acquisition of data; revised the manuscript for intellectual content. XF Wang: design and conceptualized study; revised the manuscript for intellectual content; analyzed and interpreted the data; the final approval of the version to be published. All three authors approved this version to be published and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work

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Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers of this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was received for this study.