{"id":626942,"date":"2024-02-20T17:11:44","date_gmt":"2024-02-20T22:11:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=626942"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:07:27","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:07:27","slug":"lamictal-for-depression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/lamictal-for-depression\/","title":{"rendered":"Lamictal for depression"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lamictal<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>lamotrigine<\/span><\/a>) is a prescription drug that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1994. Lamictal can be used to treat certain types of epilepsy or seizure disorders, including <\/span>partial-onset seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and generalized seizures of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. <\/span>Lamictal<\/span><\/a> can also be used as a mood stabilizer and long-term treatment in people with <\/span>bipolar I disorder<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Bipolar I disorder is a medical condition also known as manic-depressive disorder. It causes episodes of mania (an extremely excited or frenzied mood, which can be dangerous and require hospitalization) and may also cause episodes of depression. For patients with bipolar I disorder, <\/span>Lamictal<\/span><\/a> does not actually treat the episodes of mania or depression—but as a mood stabilizer, it can help increase the time between episodes of mania, depression, and other abnormal moods. <\/span><\/p>\n

How Lamictal works for depression<\/span><\/h2>\n

Lamictal is available in various formulations, including immediate-release and extended-release tablets, chewable tablets, and orally disintegrating tablets. Lamictal is an anticonvulsant medication and helps to control seizures. Although it is an antiseizure medicine, it can also be used to treat people with bipolar I disorder who experience episodes of mania and depression. <\/span><\/p>\n

For people with <\/span>bipolar I disorder<\/span><\/a> who take Lamictal, it does not actually help depressive symptoms the way a typical antidepressant, like <\/span>Prozac<\/span><\/a> (fluoxetine), does. Rather, it is used to extend the time between episodes of depression and mania. The way that Lamictal works for this use is not understood. <\/span><\/p>\n

It’s important to note that Lamictal is not FDA-approved to treat major depressive disorder (<\/span>depression<\/span><\/a> or major depression). Also, <\/span>Lamictal XR<\/span><\/a>, an extended-release form of Lamictal, is <\/span>FDA-approved<\/span><\/a> to treat seizures, but it is not FDA-approved to treat bipolar disorder.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lamictal dosage for depression<\/span><\/h2>\n

Before starting Lamictal, the medical professional will screen for drug interactions. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all the medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, vitamins, and supplements.<\/span><\/p>\n

In terms of interacting drugs, certain drugs are known as enzyme inducers, such as <\/span>Tegretol<\/span><\/a> (carbamazepine), <\/span>Dilantin<\/span><\/a> (phenytoin), <\/span>phenobarbital<\/span><\/a>, and Mysoline (<\/span>primidone<\/span><\/a>). These and certain other drugs can affect Lamictal, so the Lamictal dosage may need to be adjusted based on what other medications the individual takes. <\/span><\/p>\n

When starting a patient on Lamictal, healthcare providers generally start with lower doses and gradually increase the dose. For people with bipolar disorder and episodes of depression who take medication for bipolar disorder but do not take an enzyme-inducing drug such as the ones listed above, the Lamictal <\/span>dosage<\/span><\/a> is as follows: <\/span><\/p>\n