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Related Concept Videos

Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview01:24

Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview

Mania, a psychological condition characterized by elevated mood, increased energy, and reduced sleep need, is part of the bipolar disorder cycle. The exact cause of mania isn't entirely known, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurological factors. Bipolar disorder involves alternating manic and depressive episodes. Mood stabilizers like lithium, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants help manage these episodes. Lithium carbonate is particularly effective as a...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists01:14

Antiepileptic 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...
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators01:18

Antiepileptic 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...
Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy01:26

Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy

Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation. For...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Modulators of Neurotransmitter Release Mediated by SV2A Protein01:20

Antiepileptic 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...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators01:20

Antiepileptic 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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 8, 2026

Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression
04:29

Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression

Published on: January 7, 2019

Lamotrigine in psychiatric disorders.

Jennifer G Reid1, Michael J Gitlin, Lori L Altshuler

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.

The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
|August 16, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Lamotrigine is effective for bipolar disorder maintenance and acute depression. It shows promise for unipolar depression but lacks evidence for schizophrenia and anxiety disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Off-label medication use is common for psychiatric disorders due to side effects and treatment resistance.
  • Lamotrigine is a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved agent with potential for various psychiatric applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the literature on FDA-approved and non-FDA-approved uses of lamotrigine in adults with psychiatric disorders.
  • To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of lamotrigine across different psychiatric conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature search of PubMed and MEDLINE (1990-2012).
  • Inclusion of 29 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), supplemented by open-label trials, case reviews, and case series.
  • Extraction of data on monotherapy and augmentation trials of lamotrigine.

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Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression
04:29

Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression

Published on: January 7, 2019

Main Results:

  • Lamotrigine demonstrates strong evidence for bipolar disorder maintenance, particularly preventing depressive episodes.
  • Modest benefits observed in acute bipolar depression and subsets of symptoms in unipolar depression, especially in severe cases.
  • Limited but promising data for borderline personality disorder; insufficient evidence for schizophrenia and anxiety disorders.

Conclusions:

  • Lamotrigine is recommended for bipolar maintenance with prominent depression and for acute bipolar depression.
  • It may benefit unipolar depression, warranting further research.
  • Current data do not support lamotrigine use in schizophrenia or anxiety disorders.