More Data on Pregnancy Outcomes Associated with Lithium Use During Pregnancy
Lithium use during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of preterm birth and large for gestational age infants.
Lithium Use During Pregnancy: Results From an International Cohort Study
While we use lithium less commonly now than we have in the past, lithium is still one of the very best mood stabilizers we have. Â And with regard to its use during pregnancy, we have [...]
Prenatal Exposure to Levetiracetam and Topiramate: No Evidence of Cognitive Deficits
Many of the newer antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have uses beyond the treatment of epilepsy. Â Topiramate (marketed as a Topamax), in addition to its use for the treatment of epilepsy, is now being prescribed to reproductive [...]
Topiramate and Pregnancy: More on Risk of Major Malformations
Topiramate (TPM, marketed as Topamax) is an antiepileptic drug which is also used for migraine prophylaxis, weight loss, and, less commonly, as a mood stabilizer. Â Over the last few years we have seen several studies [...]
You Asked: Should Lamotrigine (Lamictal) Dose Be Adjusted During Pregnancy?
For many women with bipolar disorder, lamotrigine (Lamictal) is an effective mood stabilizer. Given its relatively favorable reproductive safety profile, lamotrigine is a reasonable option for women who require treatment with a mood stabilizer during pregnancy.
New Research:Â Treatment Decisions by Pregnant Women with Bipolar DisorderÂ
Choosing whether to maintain or discontinue mood stabilizer treatment during pregnancy requires weighing the risks of teratogenic outcomes associated with exposure to a particular drug against the risks of recurrence of untreated affective illness. Â Â However, [...]
Pregnancy May Lower Lamotrigine (Lamictal) Blood Levels
Women with bipolar disorder are at increased risk for recurrence of illness during pregnancy. Therefore, many women with bipolar disorder elect to continue treatment with medications during pregnancy after weighing the risks and benefits of various treatment options with their physicians. Lamotrigine (Lamictal) is an anticonvulsant used to treat bipolar disorder. While the safety data on this relatively new anticonvulsant in pregnancy is limited, pregnancy registry data suggests that lamotrigine may pose less of a risk to the developing fetus than with older anticonvulsants, such as valproate (Depakote). With lamotrigine emerging as an effective and relatively safe treatment for pregnant women with bipolar disorder, more attention is now being paid to the effects of pregnancy on lamotrigine levels.