J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2001 Sep;40(5):885-892.

Lamotrigine and Lithium in the Treatment of Acute Bipolar Disorder

• Kwon YJ
• Jeong HY
• Park IJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND:To evaluate the efficacy of lamotrigine on bipolar disorder, both manic and depressed episode, the author compared the effects of lamotrigine with lithium and placebo. METHOD: Forty-seven manic patients with bipolar disorder and 43 depressed patients with bipolar disorder were treated with lamotrigine, lithium or placebo during 6 weeks. Their severity of symptoms were rated weekly using Young's Rating Scale for Mania and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.
RESULTS
In manic patients the therapeutic efficacy of lamotrigine was lower than that of lithium during baseline to week 2, but after week 3, lamotrigine was as effective as lithium. In depressed patients the therapeutic efficacy of lamotrigine was superior to lithium from week 2 to endpoint. Most patients tolerated well except that one patient developed skin rashes.
CONCLUSION
Lamotrigine seems to have antimanic and antidepressant effect as lithium in the treatment for acute bipolar disorder.

Keyword

Bipolar disorder; Lamotrigine; Lithium

MeSH Terms

Bipolar Disorder*
Depression
Exanthema
Humans
Lithium*
Lithium