Exacerbation of tonicoclonic seizures in a juvenile myoclonic epileptic taking lamotrigine

INTRODUCTION: Lamotrigine is an anti-epileptic drug considered as a first-line therapy in idiopathic generalised epilepsy. Lamotrigine is well-tolerated and secondary aggravation of epileptic syndromes has rarely been reported. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 19 year-old man with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy in whom lamotrigine lead to the exacerbation of generalised tonico-clonic seizures, reversible when lamotrigine was stopped and substituted by valproic acid. CONCLUSION: Lamotrogine may induce exacerbation of generalised tonico-clonic seizures and myoclonic jerks in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.