Lamotrigine--an effective mood stabilizer?
OBJECTIVE
To review the literature regarding the use of lamotrigine as a mood stabilizer, and to discuss its efficacy in treating this condition.


METHODS
Data were obtained from MEDLINE, Micromedex, and Cochrane collaboration searches from January 1985 to July 1998.


METHODS
There are insufficient data to confirm that lamotrigine is an effective mood stabilizer. There are no controlled studies, and the current evidence is from case studies and open trials. Furthermore, only one study shows any evidence of effectiveness in the manic phase, although this may be because the data tend to relate to a treatment-refractory population.


CONCLUSIONS
From the current evidence, lamotrigine cannot be recommended as a mood stabilizer except when conventional therapies have failed.
Maidment
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ID
Hellesdon Hospital, Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom.
D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D014227:Triazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018692:Antimanic Agents; D014227:Triazines; D000077213:Lamotrigine