Lamotrigine and Lithium in the Treatment of Acute Bipolar Disorder.
- Author:
Young Joon KWON
1
;
Hee Yeon JEONG
;
In Joon PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Chun-An.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Bipolar disorder;
Lamotrigine;
Lithium
- MeSH:
Bipolar Disorder*;
Depression;
Exanthema;
Humans;
Lithium*
- From:Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
2001;40(5):885-892
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
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.
