title: Lamotrigine  (Lamictal IR) for the treatment of bipolar disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over the past decade the use of lamotrigine in bipolar disorder has increased. However, the evidence base suggests a more limited role for lamotrigine as part of an overall treatment regimen in bipolar disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed publications of randomized clinical trials of lamotrigine, emphasizing studies in bipolar disorder. The low burden of adverse effects with lamotrigine has been confirmed in these studies. Its lack of benefit in acute mania is established. Despite modest benefits for a subset of depressive episodes in bipolar disorder, it was not superior to placebo in well-designed studies. As monotherapy, in randomized, blinded trials in rapid cycling bipolar disorder it was not superior to placebo. Its role in maintenance treatment is relatively well established as one component of combination therapy, with evidence for benefits when combined with lithium or valproate. Combination regimens including lamotrigine appear to be superior to monotherapy. Monotherapy utilization of lamotrigine for maintenance treatment is not supported by these studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lamotrigine has benefits in bipolar disorder management principally as a component of combination treatment which includes a mood stabilizer. The utility of lamotrigine in acute bipolar depression and major depressive disorder is modest.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA. bowdenc@uthscsa.edu
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bowden
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014227:Triazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D014227:Triazines; D000077213:Lamotrigine