Among the antiseizure drugs used as monotherapy in poststroke epilepsy (PSE), lamotrigine appears to be tied to the lowest risk for mortality, while valproic acid is associated with the highest risk, suggests a new study published in JAMA Neurology.

Over 2500 patients were evaluated in the study, using carbamazepine as a comparator. Valproic acid, oxcarbazepine, and phenytoin were shown to have a significantly higher risk for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, compared with carbamazepine. Lamotrigine, on the other hand, was associated with a considerably lower risk for both outcomes. Levetiracetam was found to be tied to a lower risk for cardiovascular death; however, it did not show any significant difference in overall mortality… (Medscape)