87.7 percent of participants receiving lamotrigine had dose increases, reaching a mean of 191 percent of conception dose by delivery<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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TUESDAY, Jan. 6, 2026 (HealthDay News) — More than two-thirds of pregnant women with epilepsy (PWWE) receiving antiseizure medications (ASMs) have dose increases during pregnancy, according to a study published online Dec. 29 in Neurology<\/em>.<\/p>\n Page B. Pennell, M.D., from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and colleagues examined how ASMs were dosed in a large observational cohort study of PWWE, ages 14 to 45 years and at <20 weeks’ gestational age, who had favorable seizure outcomes. The percentage of participants who underwent dose changes was examined in pregnancy and postpartum for each ASM.<\/p>\n Overall, 299 participants were eligible for analysis. The researchers found that 67.8 percent of ASMs had dose increases during pregnancy, beginning at a median of 32 days postenrollment. For 47.9 percent of ASMs, dose decreases were made within six weeks postdelivery, beginning at a median of three days postpartum. For lamotrigine, 87.7 percent of participants had doses increased, by a median of 100 mg\/day, reaching a mean of 191 percent of conception dose by delivery; 70.5 percent had dose tapers by a median of 100 mg\/day postpartum, reaching a mean of 116 percent of conception dose by six weeks. For levetiracetam, 56.0 percent had doses increased by a median of 500 mg\/day, reaching 177 percent of mean conception dose by delivery; 34.4 percent had dose tapers postpartum, to 136 percent of conception dose by six weeks.<\/p>\n “Our goal was to generate practical evidence that empowers clinicians everywhere — from rural hospitals to urban subspecialty centers — to provide the best possible care for women with epilepsy during pregnancy,” Pennell said in a statement.<\/p>\n Several authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n