Psychopharmacology Tips

Calabrese et al. (2000) found that lamotrigine as monotherapy was effective as maintenance treatment in rapid cycling bipolar disorder, particularly in patients with bipolar II disorder. However, according to Bowden et al. (1999), lamotrigine may be less effective in rapid cycling bipolar disorder among patients who commence treatment with particularly severe manic symptomatology.

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Bowden, C.L., Calabrese, J.R., McElroy, S.L., Rhodes, L.J., Keck, P.E., Cookson, J., Anderson, J., Bolden-Watson, C., Ascher, J., Monaghan, E. & Zhou, J. (1999) The efficacy of lamotrigine in rapid cycling and non-rapid cycling patients with bipolar disorder. Biological Psychiatry, 45, 953–958.

Calabrese, J.R., Suppes, T., Bowden, C.L., Sachs, G.S., Swann, A.c., McElroy, S.L., Kusumaker, V., Ascher, J.A., Earl, N.L., Greene, P.L. & Monaghan, E.T., for the Lamictal 614 Study Group. (2000). A double-blind, placebo-controlled prophylaxis study of lamotrigine in rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 61, 841–850.