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Lamictal

Lamictal is used in the treatment of both Bipolar I and epilepsy and is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.

Remember! All drugs have side effects and a treatment option that works for one person may not work for another. Always consult with a medical professional before starting a new treatment regimen and accurately study all risk factors personally.

In two very large studies that lasted about a year and a half, 37% of bipolar persons receiving Lamictal had not received additional treatment for a mood episode vs 22% receiving a placebo. Both studies showed that Lamictal was effective in lengthening time needed until additional treatment was needed for either mania or depression.

Lamictal is also the ONLY bipolar pharmaceutical to provide mood stability for as long as eighteen months as was providing 129% more maintenance free days compared to the placebo.
Most anti-psychotics (if not all others) don’t treat depression, but lamictal is very effective at delaying depression, the most common symptom of bipolar.

Studies
Goodwin GM, Bowden CL, Calabrese JR, et al. A pooled analysis of 2 placebo-controlled 18-month trials of lamotrigine ( lamictal ) and lithium maintenance in bipolar I disorder. J Clin Psychiatry. 2004;65:432-441.
Calabrese JR, Bowden CL, Sachs G, et al. A placebo-controlled 18-month trial of lamotrigine ( lamictal ) and lithium maintenance treatment in recently depressed patients with bipolar I disorder. J Clin Psychiatry. 2003;64:1013-1024.
Bowden CL, Calabrese JR, Sachs G, et al. A placebo-controlled 18-month trial of lamotrigine ( lamictal ) and lithium maintenance treatment in recently manic or hypomanic patients with bipolar I disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2003;60:392-400.