Rash in adult patients receiving lamotrigine to treat bipolar I disorder in Korea: a multicenter, prospective, naturalistic, open-label trial.
The goal of this study was to assess the incidence of rash occurring in patients received lamotrigine to treat bipolar I disorder in a real world setting in Korea. We included a heterogeneous sample with multiple medications and medical comorbidities. Lamotrigine was added to the current therapy regime for DSM-IV bipolar I patients on an open-label basis for 12 weeks. The incidences of rash and other adverse events were assessed. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of rash. A total of 237 adult patients were included in the present study and 173 patients (73.0%) completed the 12 weeks of treatment. Thirty patients (12.7%) developed a rash, of whom 2 (0.8%) developed a serious rash. There were no patients who developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis. The median time of rash onset was 16 days. As a group, patients who did not experience rash were significantly heavier than those who did. Our findings suggest that the incidence of serious rash associated with lamotrigine is low. The prescription of lamotrigine should be undertaken with appropriate consideration of the potential risk of adverse events including rash to the patient in relation to potential benefit from improvement of bipolar disorder.
Woo
Young Sup
YS
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Bahk
Won-Myong
WM
Jon
Duk-In
DI
Joo
Yeon Ho
YH
Kim
Won
W
Seo
Jeong Seok
JS
Ahn
Yong Min
YM
Chung
Sang-Keun
SK
Won
Seung-Hee
SH
Shin
Young Chul
YC
Yoon
Bo-Hyun
BH
Jung
Sung-Hun
SH
Seok
Jeong Ho
JH
Lee
Yil-Seob
YS
Kim
Yooni
Y
Min
Kyung Joon
KJ
D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005076:Exanthema / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007723:Korea; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014227:Triazines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014227:Triazines; D000077213:Lamotrigine