Objectives:

The objective of this study was to examine the side effects of lamotrijin (LTG) monotherapy on bone mineral density in epilepsy patients taking LTG.

Methods:

18 female idiopathic generalised epilepsy patients, who take LTG and have been monitored in Bakirkoy Neurological and Psychiatric Disease Teaching and Research Hospital Epilepsy Policlinic and 20 healthy women were admitted. Clinical and demographical properties of the patients were reviewed. Afterwards, serum calcium, ionized calcium and vitamin D levels of the two groups were evaluated.

Results:

The mean age of the epilepsy patients and the control group were 27.00±10.27 and 28.95±4.21 respectively. The mean disease period was 7.8±9.5 years (1-42), LTG treatment period was evaluated as 6.61±2.9 years (2-11). The mean dosage of LTG was 123.6±55.8 mg/ day (50-225). While no significant differences were observed in calcium and ionized calcium levels between patient and the control group (p>0.05), vitamin D levels were lower in the patient group which was statistically significant (p=0.03). The duration of LTG use or daily LTG dosage had no correlation with the calcium, ionized calcium and vitamin D levels (p>0.05).

Conclusion:

Serum calcium and ionized calicium levels were found normal in patients receiving LTG monotherapy. However, vitamin D concentrations were lower in patients than in control subjects. We suggest that calcium and vitamin D levels in patients receiving LTG should be monitored closely. In addition, regular diet, physical exercise and exposing their bare skin to sunlight should be recommended.

Keywords: Epilepsy, bone metabolism, lamotrigine, treatment