Lamotrigine vs Levetiracetam In: side effects in FDA adverse event reports
At a glance
| Lamotrigine | Levetiracetam In | |
|---|---|---|
| Drug class | Anti-epileptic Agent, Mood Stabilizer | – |
| Brand names | – | Levetiracetam |
| FAERS reports | 130,963 | 77,008 |
| Serious | 72% | 89% |
| Death outcome | 11,279 | 7,088 |
| Boxed warning | Yes SERIOUS SKIN RASHES Lamotrigine can cause serious rashes requiring hospitalization and discontinuation of treatment. The incidence of these rashes, which have i | No |
Signals both drugs share
| Reaction | Lamotrigine | Levetiracetam In | Label screen (A / B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epilepsy | 3,415 · PRR 20.1 | 2,782 · PRR 27.2 | Labeled — boxed warning / Likely indication confounding |
| Partial seizures | 548 · PRR 18.9 | 927 · PRR 59.6 | Likely indication confounding / Labeled adverse reaction |
| Petit mal epilepsy | 696 · PRR 25.3 | 655 · PRR 40.2 | Labeled (related wording) / Likely indication confounding |
| Change in seizure presentation | 86 · PRR 24.0 | 175 · PRR 99.0 | Labeled (related wording) / Likely indication confounding |
| Seizure cluster | 92 · PRR 20.6 | 132 · PRR 53.4 | Labeled adverse reaction / Likely indication confounding |
| Partial seizures with secondary generalisation | 81 · PRR 33.3 | 122 · PRR 95.8 | Labeled (related wording) / Labeled (related wording) |
| Simple partial seizures | 82 · PRR 17.8 | 120 · PRR 46.8 | Labeled (related wording) / Labeled (related wording) |
| Myoclonic epilepsy | 210 · PRR 26.5 | 302 · PRR 70.2 | Likely indication confounding / Likely indication confounding |
| Focal dyscognitive seizures | 181 · PRR 30.0 | 300 · PRR 97.0 | Likely indication confounding / Likely indication confounding |
| Aura | 280 · PRR 28.2 | 187 · PRR 30.4 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Sudden unexplained death in epilepsy | 170 · PRR 73.3 | 135 · PRR 90.6 | Likely indication confounding / Likely indication confounding |
| Atonic seizures | 114 · PRR 26.6 | 119 · PRR 47.7 | Likely indication confounding / Likely indication confounding |
| Developmental hip dysplasia | 100 · PRR 21.7 | 90 · PRR 32.9 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
Labeled signals distinctive to Lamotrigine
- Stevens-johnson syndrome — n=2,615, PRR 21.2 Labeled — boxed warning
- Duodenal ulcer perforation — n=824, PRR 20.1 Labeled (related wording)
- Peripheral venous disease — n=638, PRR 30.3 Labeled (related wording)
- Complex partial seizures — n=173, PRR 28.9 Labeled (related wording)
Labeled signals distinctive to Levetiracetam In
- Status epilepticus — n=2,084, PRR 61.4 Labeled adverse reaction
Common questions
Which has more reported side effects, Lamotrigine or Levetiracetam In?
Lamotrigine has 130,963 FAERS reports and Levetiracetam In 77,008. More reports does not mean more dangerous: volume follows how widely and how long a drug has been used, prescription vs over-the-counter status, and publicity. The seriousness share (72% vs 89%) is a better like-for-like signal of the kind of problems reported.
Which side effects do Lamotrigine and Levetiracetam In share?
Both drugs carry disproportionality signals for epilepsy, partial seizures, petit mal epilepsy, change in seizure presentation, seizure cluster. Shared signals often reflect a shared drug class or the condition both are used for.
Is Lamotrigine or Levetiracetam In safer?
FAERS cannot answer that: it has no denominator and no comparator. Use this page to see which risks are already on each label and which signals are unlabeled, then check the prescribing information and your clinician for your situation.
Sources: openFDA FAERS pair statistics (OpenPV build 2026-09-14), FDA labels via openFDA, openFDA count queries for seriousness and deaths. Pair chosen because it is a commonly searched comparison. Generated 2026-10-08.