Lamotrigine compared with lithium in mania: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Preliminary data from case reports and small open trials suggest a role for lamotrigine in the treatment of bipolar disorder, although controlled data for the manic phase are lacking.


METHODS
Thirty inpatients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar I disorder, currently manic, were randomly allocated to receive either lamotrigine (25 mg once daily for 1 week, 50 mg once daily for the second week, and 100 mg once daily for the last 2 weeks) or lithium (400 mg twice daily) in a 4-week randomized, double-blind, clinical trial.


RESULTS
Both treatments improved symptoms of mania, as assessed by the Mania Rating Scale, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Clinical Global Impression severity and improvement scales, and the Global Assessment of Functioning scale. There were no significant differences between groups at any time point, suggesting that the dose escalation required for lamotrigine did not adversely affect its onset of action. Secondary outcome measures, including the use of lorazepam as rescue medication, did not differ between the groups. No significant adverse events were noted in either group.


CONCLUSIONS
In this pilot study, lamotrigine was as effective as lithium in the treatment of patients with bipolar disorder hospitalised for acute mania.
Ichim
L
L
Department of Psychiatry, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, Parktown, South Africa.
Berk
M
M
Brook
S
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014227:Triazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D018692:Antimanic Agents; D014227:Triazines; D008094:Lithium; D000077213:Lamotrigine