Federal health officials warn of rare brain inflammation with Glaxo drug Lamictal

FDA warns of brain problem with Glaxo seizure drug

WASHINGTON — Federal health regulators are warning doctors and patients that an anti-seizure drug from GlaxoSmithKline PLC can cause rare inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.

The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it is working with the British drugmaker Glaxo to add new warnings and labeling information to the company’s drug Lamictal.

The agency said it has received reports of 40 cases of aseptic meningitis between 1994, when Lamictal was approved, and last November. Thirty-five patients needed to be hospitalized, the agency said in a statement. The symptoms usually emerged within the first month and a half of treatment.

Aseptic meningitis is a dangerous inflammation of the brain and spinal cord that can cause headache, fever, chills and vomiting. The problem can be caused by viruses, toxins and certain medications. Treatment for the illness, which usually resolves itself in two weeks, generally involves pain medications.

Lamictal is part of the anti-seizure family of medications. The drug, which posted sales of $778 million last year, is also approved by the FDA to treat manic depression.

GlaxoSmithKline said in a statement it will add language about the risk to a medication guide distributed to patients. According to the company, aseptic meningitis is a “very rarely reported event.”

The company’s U.S-traded shares rose 74 cents, or 2 percent, to $37.20 in afternoon trading.