Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
09:07
Electroconvulsive Seizures in Rats and Fractionation of Their Hippocampi to Examine Seizure-induced Changes in Postsynaptic Density Proteins
Published on: August 15, 2017
Concurrent use of lamotrigine and electroconvulsive therapy
Pascal Sienaert1, Yolente Roelens, Hella Demunter
1ECT Department and the Department of Mood Disorders, University Psychiatric Center, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Campus Kortenberg, Belgium. pascal.sienaert@uc-kortenberg.be
The Journal of ECT
|June 22, 2010
Summary
Lamotrigine (LMT) did not significantly alter electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)-induced seizure duration or stimulus dose. However, concurrent LMT use was associated with more frequent missed seizures during ECT treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a vital treatment for severe mental health conditions.
- Lamotrigine (LMT) is an anticonvulsant medication with potential interactions during ECT.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of lamotrigine (LMT) on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)-induced seizures.
- To assess seizure duration and stimulus energy requirements during concurrent LMT and ECT.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of patients receiving LMT during ECT from 2001-2009.
- Comparison of ECT stimulus dose and motor/EEG seizure duration with and without concurrent LMT (≥200 mg/d).
Main Results:
- Lamotrigine was administered to 19 patients over 289 ECT sessions.
- No significant difference in seizure duration or stimulus dose was observed between ECT with and without LMT.
- Missed seizures occurred more frequently when LMT was concurrently administered.
Conclusions:
- Adequate seizure duration for ECT efficacy can be achieved with concurrent lamotrigine use.
- Therapeutic doses of lamotrigine do not appear to clinically impact ECT-induced seizure length or stimulus dose.
- The combination of lamotrigine and ECT was generally well-tolerated, despite an increased incidence of missed seizures.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Electroconvulsive Therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or shock therapy, remains a critical biomedical intervention for severe, treatment-resistant depression. While its origins can be traced back to Hippocrates' observations that malaria-induced convulsions alleviated mental illness, modern ECT has evolved significantly from its earlier, more primitive applications. First introduced in 1938 by Ugo Cerletti and his colleagues, ECT involves inducing controlled seizures using electrical currents. In its early years,...
01:20Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators
Ezocgabine or retigabine, an antiepileptic drug of remarkable efficacy, has revolutionized the management of seizures. It is a potassium channel activator, explicitly targeting the family of Q subtype potassium channels. It enhances the transmembrane potassium currents, regulating neuronal excitability. This action stabilizes the resting membrane potential, a pivotal factor in mitigating the hyperexcitability that characterizes epilepsy.
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
01:14Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists
Glutamate is a fundamental neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, playing a vital role in neuronal communication and various cognitive processes. Glutamate stands as the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its presence is crucial for the communication between neurons, underpinning essential processes such as synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, and plasticity. These functions are vital for higher-order cognitive processes, including learning and memory. The...
01:20Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein
Antiepileptic drugs, such as levetiracetam (Keppra) and brivaracetam (Briviact), have emerged as crucial tools in managing epilepsy. These medications exert their therapeutic effects by targeting the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, a transmembrane glycoprotein primarily found in the brain.
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
SV2A is a transmembrane glycoprotein located predominantly in the brain, modulating the release of neurotransmitters for neuronal communication. Both levetiracetam and brivaracetam exhibit a high affinity for...
01:18Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators
γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for their...
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for their...
01:08Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers
Antiepileptic drugs are specialized medications that prevent seizures in individuals diagnosed with epilepsy. These drugs primarily function by blocking the movement of sodium ions through channels in the neuronal membrane, inhibiting the repetitive firing of action potentials often associated with seizures.
Sodium channel blockers modulate ion channels, particularly voltage-gated sodium channels. They block only sodium ion movement.
Among the most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs are...
Sodium channel blockers modulate ion channels, particularly voltage-gated sodium channels. They block only sodium ion movement.
Among the most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs are...