Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
Laboratory Abnormalities
Abnormalities in liver function tests have occurred in controlled trials with lacosamide in adult patients with partial-onset seizures who were taking 1 to 3 concomitant antiepileptic drugs. Elevations of ALT to ≥3x ULN occurred in 0.7% (7/935) of lacosamide patients and 0% (0/356) of placebo patients. One case of hepatitis with transaminases >20x ULN occurred in one healthy subject 10 days after lacosamide treatment completion, along with nephritis (proteinuria and urine casts). Serologic studies were negative for viral hepatitis. Transaminases returned to normal within one month without specific treatment. At the time of this event, bilirubin was normal. The hepatitis/nephritis was interpreted as a delayed hypersensitivity reaction to lacosamide.
Other Adverse Reactions
The following is a list of adverse reactions reported by patients treated with lacosamide in all clinical trials in adult patients, including controlled trials and long-term open-label extension trials. Adverse reactions addressed in other tables or sections are not listed here.
Blood and lymphatic system disorders: neutropenia, anemia
Cardiac disorders: palpitations
Ear and labyrinth disorders: tinnitus
Gastrointestinal disorders: constipation, dyspepsia, dry mouth, oral hypoaesthesia
General disorders and administration site conditions: irritability, pyrexia, feeling drunk
Injury, poisoning, and procedural complications: fall
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: muscle spasms
Nervous system disorders: paresthesia, cognitive disorder, hypoaesthesia, dysarthria, disturbance in attention, cerebellar syndrome
Psychiatric disorders: confusional state, mood altered, depressed mood
Lacosamide Injection
Adult Patients (17 Years and Older)
Adverse reactions with intravenous administration to adult patients with partial-onset seizures generally were similar to those that occurred with the oral formulation, although intravenous administration was associated with local adverse reactions such as injection site pain or discomfort (2.5%), irritation (1%), and erythema (0.5%). One case of profound bradycardia (26 bpm: BP 100/60 mmHg) occurred in a patient during a 15-minute infusion of 150 mg lacosamide. This patient was on a beta-blocker. Infusion was discontinued and the patient experienced a rapid recovery.
The safety of a 15-minute loading dose administration of lacosamide injection 200 mg to 400 mg followed by oral administration of lacosamide given twice daily at the same total daily dose as the initial intravenous infusion was assessed in an open-label study in adult patients with partial-onset seizures. Patients had to have been maintained on a stable dose regimen of 1 to 2 marketed antiepileptics for at least 28 days prior to treatment assignment. Treatment groups were as follows:
- Single dose of intravenous lacosamide injection 200 mg followed by oral lacosamide 200 mg/day (100 mg every 12 hours)
- Single dose of intravenous lacosamide injection 300 mg followed by oral lacosamide 300 mg/day (150 mg every 12 hours)
- Single dose of intravenous lacosamide injection 400 mg followed by oral lacosamide 400 mg/day (200 mg every 12 hours)
Table 4 gives the incidence of adverse reactions that occurred in ≥5% of adult patients in any lacosamide dosing group.
Table 4: Adverse Reactions in a 15-minute Infusion Study in Adult Patients with Partial-Onset Seizures
Adverse Reaction
| Lacosamide 200 mg N=25%
| Lacosamide 300 mg N=50%
| Lacosamide 400 mg N=25%
| Lacosamide Total N=100%
|
Eye disorders
|
|
|
|
|
Diplopia
| 4
| 6
| 20
| 9
|
Blurred Vision
| 0
| 4
| 12
| 5
|
Gastrointestinal disorders
|
|
|
|
|
Nausea
| 0
| 16
| 24
| 14
|
Dry mouth
| 0
| 6
| 12
| 6
|
Vomiting
| 0
| 4
| 12
| 5
|
Oral Paresthesia
| 4
| 4
| 8
| 5
|
Oral Hypoesthesia
| 0
| 6
| 8
| 5
|
Diarrhea
| 0
| 8
| 0
| 4
|
General disorders/administration site conditions
|
|
|
|
|
Fatigue
| 0
| 18
| 12
| 12
|
Gait disturbance
| 8
| 2
| 0
| 3
|
Chest pain
| 0
| 0
| 12
| 3
|
Nervous system disorders
|
|
|
|
|
Dizziness
| 20
| 46
| 60
| 43
|
Somnolence
| 0
| 34
| 36
| 26
|
Headache
| 8
| 4
| 16
| 8
|
Paresthesia
| 8
| 6
| 4
| 6
|
Tremor
| 0
| 6
| 4
| 4
|
Abnormal Coordination
| 0
| 6
| 0
| 3
|
Skin & subcutaneous tissue disorders
|
|
|
|
|
Pruritus
| 0
| 6
| 4
| 4
|
Hyperhidrosis
| 0
| 0
| 8
| 2
|
Adverse reactions that occurred with infusion of lacosamide 200 mg over 15-minutes followed by lacosamide 100 mg administered orally twice per day were similar in frequency to those that occurred in 3-month adjunctive therapy controlled trials. Considering the difference in period of observations (1 week vs. 3 months), the incidence of CNS adverse reactions, such as dizziness, somnolence, and paresthesia may be higher with 15-minute administration of lacosamide injection than with administration over a 30-to 60-minute period.
Pediatric use information is approved for UCB, Inc.’s VIMPAT® (lacosamide) injection. However, due to UCB, Inc.’s marketing exclusivity rights, this drug product is not labeled with that pediatric information.