During the normal course of our lives, all of us go through the highs or lows and the ordinary ups and downs. Happiness and sadness are perfectly normal feelings that are connected to the achievements and disappointments of our everyday living. However, for certain individuals the highs or lows happen randomly, with extreme intensity, and most often without warning. Probably these are the persons suffering from a psychological condition called bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder is characterized by feelings of extreme depression bordering on such levels that the individual is unable to accomplish everyday tasks. Another phase of bipolar disorder is highlighted by excessive energy, vitality, ecstasy delusions and hallucinations. This is called mania. Both the phases happen involuntarily for the individual. The sufferer has no control over his feelings and reactions.
The different forms of bipolar disorder are classified according to the typical characteristics as well as the intensity of the condition. These are:
Lamictal, which is the brand name for Lamotrigine is a US. FDA approved drug for the treatment of bipolar disorder and epilepsy. In epileptic cases, Lamictal is used for treatment of partial seizures, tonic – clonic seizures, as well as those seizures related to Lennox – Gastaut syndrome. Lamictal plays the role of a mood stabilizer in bipolar type I disorder maintenance treatment.
How does Lamictal work?Lamictal is known to restore the normalcy/balance of certain chemicals within the brain, used for transmitting signals. Lamictal blocks sodium channels just like Oxcarbazepine, but has fewer side effects compared to other anticonvulsants which block sodium channels.
Advantages of the use of Lamictal in treating bipolar disorderThe typical anticonvulsant group of drugs is primarily antimanics. Lamotrigine or Lamictal is useful in the prevention and treatment of bipolar depression. Lamictal is effective in treating bipolar depression, and is also successful in not aggravating such symptoms as mania, mixed states, and rapid cycling. However Lamictal has not proved its efficacy with regard to the treating of symptoms of acute mania or extreme bipolar symptoms. The American Psychiatric Association gave its guidelines in 2002 recommending lamotrigine as the first choice of treatment for severe depression relating to bipolar disorder and also as a long term maintenance therapy.
Lamictal (lamotrigine) is a derivative of phenyltriazine. It works in patients with bipolar disorder by inhibiting sodium as well as calcium channels within presynaptic neurons. This subsequently results in neuronal membrane stabilization. Sole therapy with Lamictal has proven to significantly delay the need for including extra line of treatments like electroconvulsive therapy or pharmacotherapy in depression, mania, hypomania or mixed states. The efficacy of Lamictal in this regard has been judged along side placebo, and obviously the former proved to be superior. Lamotrigine (Lamictal) also proved to be superior to placebo in postponing manic or hypomanic episodes, as well as extending time for requirement of other treatment intervention relating to depression.
The maintenance studies have also proved that Lamictal is mostly tolerated well by patients. Some side effects may be present like nausea, headache, insomnia or infection but these are not serious or long term. The chances of occurrences of tremor and diarrhea are relatively lower in Lamictal than patients treated with lithium. Episodes of rash are also as low as 0.1%. Rashes can occur in one of the following conditions.
Use of Lamictal also does not significantly result in increase in body weight. Unlike lithium, use of Lamictal also does not need serum levels monitoring. Lamictal has been known to significantly reduce patients’ suicidal thoughts. However if certain allergic reactions develop like fever, hives, swelling of the lymph glands, and sores in the tongue, around the mouth, it is better to call on the doctor who will take the decision of whether you should continue with the medication or not. Efficacy of Lamictal has not been tested in children. Thus it is best reserved for use in adults. Since Lamictal can hamper sleep, it is ideal to take the medication in the morning.
Lamictal is a trademark product of GlaxoSmithKline. It is available in the following forms:
The discovery of Lamictal is indeed a revolutionary step taken towards the treatment of bipolar disorder. The drug immensely helps in restoring the normal functioning of day to day life of an individual afflicted with the disorder.