Lamotrigine: an unusual etiology for aseptic meningitis.
BACKGROUND
Several drugs have been reported to induce meningitis, most frequent being nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, intravenous immunoglobulins, and OKT3 antibodies. Although there are rare reports of lamotrigine-associated aseptic meningitis, this is only the second confirmed by re-exposure to the medication.


METHODS
We describe a case of lamotrigine-induced aseptic meningitis in a 36-year-old woman with hypothyroidism and bipolar disorder. Symptoms appeared within 2 weeks after starting the medication and resolved over several days after discontinuation. Her complex reappeared one week later within one hour after re-exposure to lamotrigine.


CONCLUSIONS
Lamotrigine is a rarely reported and possibly underrecognized cause of aseptic meningitis. Physicians should be aware of aseptic meningitis as a potential reaction when prescribing lamotrigine or encountering cases of aseptic meningitis.
Lam
Gregory M
GM
Section of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. glam@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
Edelson
Dana P
DP
Whelan
Chad T
CT
D000328:Adult; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000150:complications; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors; D014227:Triazines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018692:Antimanic Agents; D014227:Triazines; D000077213:Lamotrigine