Lamotrigine compared with lithium in Mania: A double-blind randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Preliminary data from case reports and small open trials suggest a role for lamotrigine in the treatment of bipolar disorder, although controlled data for the manic phase are lacking. Method: Thirty inpatients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar I disorder, currently manic, were randomly allocated to receive either lamotrigine (25 mg once daily for 1 week, 50 mg once daily for the second week, and 100 mg once daily for the last 2 weeks) or lithium (400 mg twice daily) in a 4-week randomized, double-blind, clinical trial. Results: Both treatments improved symptoms of mania, as assessed by the Mania Rating Scale, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Clinical Global Impression severity an..