title: Safety of Long-term Use of Lamotrigine for the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lamotrigine (LTG) is a drug commonly used to treat epilepsy and can also be used to manage mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder. One of the most dangerous adverse effects of LTG is skin rash, which can make early cessation necessary. Here, we examine the adverse effects associated with long-term use of LTG for the treatment of mood disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from the medical records of 101 psychiatric patients who were prescribed long-term treatment with LTG. Patients were retrospectively divided into those who discontinued treatment within 6 months and those who continued for longer, and the groups were compared for adverse effects. We also compared the incidence of adverse effects in high and low doses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-four patients continued LTG treatment for 6 months or longer; 47 discontinued within 6 months. A history of allergy was more prevalent among the patients who discontinued treatment early than in those who continued. Of the patients who continued treatment for 6 months or longer, only 2 later discontinued treatment because of adverse effects. Lamotrigine monotherapy showed no difference in the incidence of adverse effects for different doses of LTG (>200 mg = 4.8% vs >100 mg, ≤200 mg = 7.7%; P = 1, vs >50 mg, ≤100 mg = 0%; P = 1 vs ≤50 mg = 0%; P = 1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians must be mindful of the adverse effects occurring early during the titration phase. However, long-term use of LTG was very well tolerated, even at high maintenance doses.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Pharmacy, Saga University Hospital; and †Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan.
authors.forename: Rintaro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sogawa
authors.forename: Sakiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mochinaga
authors.forename: Takayoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inaba
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matsushima
authors.forename: Yoshito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mizoguchi
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawashima
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujito
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monji
mesh_terms: D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D018682:GABA Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014227:Triazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018682:GABA Agents; D014227:Triazines; D014635:Valproic Acid; D000077213:Lamotrigine