Document Detail


Changed constitution without change in brand name - The risk of generics in epilepsy.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  22030125     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
PURPOSE: Lamotrigine (LTG) is an anti epileptic medication (AEM) for which blood levels are helpful for optimal dosing. In late 2010, patients attending an epilepsy clinic were becoming toxic without obvious cause. This paper reports altered levels without change in regimen and provides unexpected findings. METHODS: Patients with elevated LTG blood levels were assessed to determine change in AEM regimen or generic substitution. Method of blood level determination was reviewed and the company (GlaxoSmithKline) contacted regarding change in source of medication. PRINCIPAL RESULTS: The sample comprised 18 patients; mean age 40±16years, mean daily LTG dose 493±218mg. Mean serum LTG concentrations from August 2010 to February 2011 [91.8±17.7μmolL(-1), range 69.9-133.7μmolL(-1)] were significantly higher than those from January 2010 to July 2010 [50.3±9.1μmolL(-1), range 32-60.1μmolL(-1)), p<0.0001]. All patients received parent product (Lamictal(®)) and the method of LTG blood level determination was unchanged. GlaxoSmithKline confirmed that Lamictal(®) was sourced from a different site. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that, even using a parent compound, AEM levels can fluctuate if the product source has changed, resulting in toxicity. It also highlights the value of determining AEM levels and the risks attached to generic substitution.
Authors:
Vishal Patel; Dennis J Cordato; Manu Dias; Roy G Beran
Related Documents :
7094825 - Fetal blood analysis. ii. effect of delayed assay on ph and lactate.
2128115 - Pitfalls in acid/base experiments with conscious dogs.
18676725 - Effects of multiple concurrent stressors on rectal temperature, blood acid-base status,...
20063105 - Oxygen uptake and blood metabolic responses to a 400-m run.
18925185 - A novel approach to non-segmented flow analysis. part 2. a prototype high-performance a...
18643485 - Measurement of the decay b(-) ---> d(*0)e(-)nu[overline](e).
Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE     Date:  2011-10-24
Journal Detail:
Title:  Epilepsy research     Volume:  -     ISSN:  1872-6844     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2011 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-10-27     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8703089     Medline TA:  Epilepsy Res     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  -     Citation Subset:  -    
Copyright Information:
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Department of Neurophysiology, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW, Australia.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Region specificity of rectus femoris muscle for force vectors in vivo.
Next Document:  Similar response to anti-epileptic medications among epileptic siblings.