From the Guidelines
Lamotrigine is used for the treatment of bipolar depression in adolescents, including a 17-year-old female.
Key Points
- Lamotrigine is approved for maintenance therapy in adults with bipolar disorder, but its use in adolescents is supported by open-label trials and case reports 1.
- A study by Chang et al. (2006) found lamotrigine to be effective for adolescents with bipolar depression 1.
- The evidence for lamotrigine's efficacy in adolescents is limited, but it is considered a potential treatment option for bipolar depression in this age group.
- It is essential to note that lamotrigine should be used with caution and under close monitoring, as its safety and efficacy in adolescents have not been extensively studied.
- The dosage and treatment regimen for lamotrigine in adolescents should be determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the individual's response to treatment and potential side effects.
Important Considerations
- Lamotrigine is not FDA-approved for bipolar disorder in youths, but it is commonly used in clinical settings for early-onset bipolar disorder.
- Clinicians should be aware of the potential risks and benefits of using lamotrigine in adolescents and carefully monitor their patients for any adverse effects.
- More research is needed to fully understand the efficacy and safety of lamotrigine in adolescents with bipolar disorder.
The FDA Drug Labels for lamotrigine (PO) do not address this question.
From the Research
Use of Lamotrigine in a 17-Year-Old Female
- Lamotrigine is used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, particularly in preventing depressive episodes 2.
- In pediatric patients, including 17-year-old females, lamotrigine may be effective in treating bipolar I disorder, especially in older adolescents 3, 4.
- The efficacy and safety of lamotrigine in pediatric mood disorders, including bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, have been demonstrated in several studies 3, 4.
- Lamotrigine has been shown to be well-tolerated in pediatric patients, with no major significant side effects reported in most studies 3, 4.
Potential Benefits and Risks
- The use of lamotrigine in a 17-year-old female may be beneficial in treating bipolar disorder, particularly in preventing depressive episodes 2, 3.
- However, there is a small risk of serious skin rash, which can be minimized with slow titration of the drug and dose adjustment with concomitant medications 5.
- Other potential adverse effects of lamotrigine include dermatologic events, suicidality-related adverse events, and rare but life-threatening conditions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome 2, 3.
Dosage and Administration
- The daily dosage of lamotrigine varied from 12.5 to 391.3 mg/day among the studies, with a mean age of 14.6 ± 2.0 years 4.
- However, there is inconsistent evidence to make conclusive recommendations on therapeutic lamotrigine dosage for mood improvement in the pediatric population, and further studies are required to address this question 4.