Refractory ventricular fibrillation in patient taking Lamictal

Refractory ventricular fibrillation occurs when there are three or more episodes of ventricular fibrillation within a 24-hour period. We report the first case of a 35-year-old woman without prior medical or family cardiac history who sustained refractory ventricular fibrillation while taking Lamictal for bipolar depression. She presented to the Emergency Department (ED) after a syncopal episode at work. She then sustained a cardiac arrest and required defibrillation in the ED multiple times due to recurrent ventricular fibrillation. The patient received a Subcutaneous Implantable Cardio-Defibrillator and was discharged home. There was no identifiable cardiac or medical cause of her ventricular fibrillation and the electrophysiologist suspected Lamictal caused her refractory ventricular fibrillation.