Female genital disorder as adverse symptom of lamotrigine treatment. A serotoninergic effect?
The new anticonvulsant, lamotrigine, is becoming an important tool in the treatment of bipolar disorder, including bipolar depression. Its efficacy in bipolar depression might be linked to its inhibition of serotonin uptake. We present the case of a female schizoaffective patient successfully treated with 400 mg of lamotrigine developing considerable genital disorder, a side effect well known from the treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). We suggest that female genital disorder induced by high doses of lamotrigine is a serotoninergic side effect.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich, Germany. erfurth@uni-muenster.de
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Erfurth
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Amann
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Grunze
D000328:Adult; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014227:Triazines / Q000009:adverse effects*
D018692:Antimanic Agents; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D014227:Triazines