Lamotrigine for the treatment of bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the available data regarding the clinical efficacy of lamotrigine for the treatment of bipolar disorder.

SUMMARY

Anticonvulsants have emerged as alternative mood-stabilizing agents for patients with bipolar disorder who do not respond to lithium. Data regarding the efficacy of lamotrigine have been generated primarily from case reports, small open trials, and one large, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. These reports suggest that lamotrigine may be effective for the management of bipolar disorder.

CONCLUSIONS

Although current data are limited, treatment-refractory patients with bipolar disorder may benefit from lamotrigine therapy. Several studies are currently underway to determine the appropriate role of lamotrigine in the treatment of bipolar disorder.