Lamotrigine in mood disorders
by
Green B.
Department of Psychiatry,
University of Liverpool, UK.
Curr Med Res Opin. 2003 Jun;19(4):272-277

ABSTRACT

Lamotrigine is an anticonvulsant drug with good efficacy and safety in the treatment of epilepsy. There is now substantial evidence that lamotrigine is also useful in treating resistant depression, rapid cycling bipolar affective disorder, depressive episodes in bipolar affective disorder and in the maintenance phase or prophylaxis of bipolar affective disorder. There are possible roles in managing mood changes in borderline personality disorder, reducing chronic pain and treating schizoaffective disorder. The general range of doses found effective in affective disorders is from 50 to 300 mg daily. Clinical use seems to involve a titration of dose upwards over several weeks until the desired effect is obtained. However, further definitive double-blind, randomised controlled trials against gold standard treatments are required. Lamotrigine has a preferable side-effect profile compared to standard agents for bipolar affective disorder such as lithium or carbamazepine. Further research is certainly warranted and, given its tolerability, could point to lamotrigine as the treatment of choice for some affective disorders.

Mania
Lithium
Valproate
Gabapentin
Lamotrigine
Beyond lithium
Drugs for bipolars
The manic spectrum
Bipolar versus unipolar
Bipolar treatment guidelines
Lamotrigine (Lamictal) : structure
Lamotrigine (Lamictal) as a mood stabiliser
Lamotrigine (Lamictal): prescribing information (PDF)

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