From the Guidelines
Lamotrigine is not recommended for the treatment of insomnia, as it is not listed as a suggested treatment in the clinical practice guideline for the pharmacologic treatment of chronic insomnia in adults. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline, published in 2017 1, provides recommendations for the pharmacologic treatment of chronic insomnia in adults, and lamotrigine is not mentioned as a suggested treatment.
Treatment Options for Insomnia
Instead, the guideline suggests the use of other medications, such as:
- Orexin receptor agonists, like suvorexant
- BZD receptor agonists, like eszopiclone and zolpidem
- Melatonin agonists, like ramelteon
- Heterocyclics, like doxepin These medications have been shown to be effective in treating sleep onset and sleep maintenance insomnia in adults.
Important Considerations
It's essential to note that lamotrigine is primarily used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder, and its use in treating insomnia is not supported by the available evidence. Some patients may experience insomnia as a side effect of lamotrigine, while others may experience drowsiness. If you're struggling with insomnia, it's crucial to consult with your healthcare provider to determine the best course of treatment, which may include practicing good sleep hygiene, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), or medications specifically designed for sleep.
From the Research
Lamotrigine and Insomnia
- There is limited information available on the specific topic of lamotrigine helping with insomnia.
- However, according to the study 2, lamotrigine was generally well tolerated in maintenance studies, with the most common adverse events being headache, nausea, infection, and insomnia.
- This suggests that insomnia may be a potential side effect of lamotrigine, rather than a condition that it helps to treat.
- None of the studies provided directly address the question of whether lamotrigine helps with insomnia, and therefore, no conclusive evidence can be drawn from the available data 3, 4, 5, 6.