Impact of lamotrigine and lithium on weight in obese and nonobese patients with bipolar I disorder.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed weight changes in a large cohort of patients with bipolar disorder who were treated with randomly assigned maintenance monotherapies.


METHODS
A post hoc analysis was conducted to assess the effects of lamotrigine, lithium, and placebo administration on body weight in obese and nonobese patients with bipolar disorder from two double-blind, placebo-controlled, 18-month studies.


RESULTS
Mean changes in weight among obese patients (N=155) at week 52 were -4.2, +6.1, and -0.6 kg with lamotrigine, lithium, and placebo, respectively (lamotrigine versus lithium and lithium versus placebo). Among nonobese patients (N=399), mean changes in weight (kg) at week 52 were -0.5, +1.1, and +0.7 with lamotrigine, lithium, and placebo, respectively, with no significant differences among groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Obese patients with bipolar I disorder lost weight while taking lamotrigine and gained weight while taking lithium.
Bowden
Charles L
CL
Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA. bowdenc@uthscsa.edu
Calabrese
Joseph R
JR
Ketter
Terence A
TA
Sachs
Gary S
GS
White
Robin L
RL
Thompson
Thomas R
TR
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D008094:Lithium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009765:Obesity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010919:Placebos; D014227:Triazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010919:Placebos; D014227:Triazines; D008094:Lithium; D000077213:Lamotrigine