Levetiracetam in the treatment of rapid cycling bipolar disorder.
Levetiracetam (LEV) is a novel anticonvulsant that is currently investigated in bipolar disorder. It may be useful in the treatment of refractory and complicated cases, in which conventional mood stabilizers are not effective. We report two cases of rapid cycling bipolar disorder in which the add-on of LEV to a conventional treatment regimen improved symptoms of depression, as well as those of mania/mixed mania, and disrupted the severe rapid cycling pattern.
Bräunig
Peter
P
Klinik für Psychiatrie, Verhaltensmedizin und Psychosomatik, Chemnitz, University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany. p.braeunig@skc.de
Krüger
Stephanie
S
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018692:Antimanic Agents; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D014635:Valproic Acid; D010889:Piracetam