title: Lamotrigine in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
abstract: Lamotrigine has undergone a remarkable series of systematic studies since 1994 that now establish it as an efficacious, well-tolerated treatment in bipolar disorder. Its efficacy principally addresses both acute and maintenance phase benefits on depressive symptomatology. These benefits have been demonstrated in placebo-controlled studies, rapid cycling patients, bipolar I and II patients and monotherapy as well as in combination therapy, although this has been less well studied. The drug is exceptionally well-tolerated in long-term treatment, although initial dosing requires gradual dosage escalation to avoid the risk of inducing serious rashes with features within the spectrum of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Administration with valproate requires a slower dosage titration, whereas, as with many drugs, administration with carbamazepine requires a more rapid dosage increase. In contrast to marketed antidepressants, lamotrigine appears not to induce manic or hypo-manic episodes, nor to increase cycling frequency. This combination of properties makes it a first-choice treatment for acute bipolar depression and continuation treatment, especially, but not limited to, prophylaxis against recurrent depression and depressive symptoms. Lamotrigine appears not to have acute antimanic properties. A small number of studies suggest a broader spectrum of efficacy, including in some axis I disorders that are comorbidly associated with bipolar disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA.
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bowden
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D014227:Triazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014227:Triazines; D000077213:Lamotrigine