Bipolar Disorder Support Group
Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.
Old article but I found it interesting and wanted to share.
Lamictal Linked To Aseptic Meningitis
Lamictal (Lamotrigine), a medication approved by the FDA for the treatment of seizures and bipolar disorder, can cause aseptic meningitis, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has announced. Aseptic meningitis is inflammation of the meninges - the protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord, not caused by bacterial infection.
The FDA and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the makers of the drug, are working together to update the prescribing information and patient medication guide to include this risk.
Aseptic meningitis has many possible causes, some of which include:
viruses
Toxic agents
Some vaccines
Some autoimmune diseases
Some drugs (including Lamictal)
Signs and symptoms of aseptic meningitis include:
Headache
Fever
Chills
Nausea
Stiff neck
Vomiting
Photophobia - sensitivity to light
In some cases patients with aseptic meningitis need to be hospitalized.
The FDA says that if no other clear cause of the meningitis is detected, discontinuation of Lamictal should be considered.
Russell Katz, M.D., director of the Division of Neurology Products in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said:
Aseptic meningitis is a rare but serious side effect of Lamictal use. Patients that experience symptoms should consult their health care professional immediately.
The FDA says it became aware of the aseptic meningitis-Lamictal link through routine adverse event monitoring and liaisons with GSK.
Lamictal was approved for bipolar disorder treatment in the USA in December 1994. Up to November 2009 there were 40 cases of aseptic meningitis identified in patients taking Lamictal. The symptoms were reported to occur within one to 42 days after starting Lamictal. Thirty-five of the 40 patients required hospitalization. In most cases, symptoms ended after Lamictal was discontinued. In 15 cases, symptoms, often more severe, returned when patients restarted the drug.
Source: FDA
Lamictal Linked To Aseptic Meningitis
Lamictal (Lamotrigine), a medication approved by the FDA for the treatment of seizures and bipolar disorder, can cause aseptic meningitis, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has announced. Aseptic meningitis is inflammation of the meninges - the protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord, not caused by bacterial infection.
The FDA and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the makers of the drug, are working together to update the prescribing information and patient medication guide to include this risk.
Aseptic meningitis has many possible causes, some of which include:
viruses
Toxic agents
Some vaccines
Some autoimmune diseases
Some drugs (including Lamictal)
Signs and symptoms of aseptic meningitis include:
Headache
Fever
Chills
Nausea
Stiff neck
Vomiting
Photophobia - sensitivity to light
In some cases patients with aseptic meningitis need to be hospitalized.
The FDA says that if no other clear cause of the meningitis is detected, discontinuation of Lamictal should be considered.
Russell Katz, M.D., director of the Division of Neurology Products in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said:
Aseptic meningitis is a rare but serious side effect of Lamictal use. Patients that experience symptoms should consult their health care professional immediately.
The FDA says it became aware of the aseptic meningitis-Lamictal link through routine adverse event monitoring and liaisons with GSK.
Lamictal was approved for bipolar disorder treatment in the USA in December 1994. Up to November 2009 there were 40 cases of aseptic meningitis identified in patients taking Lamictal. The symptoms were reported to occur within one to 42 days after starting Lamictal. Thirty-five of the 40 patients required hospitalization. In most cases, symptoms ended after Lamictal was discontinued. In 15 cases, symptoms, often more severe, returned when patients restarted the drug.
Source: FDA
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hmmm didnt say how long after lamictal was discontinued that the symptoms occured.
"Up to November 2009 there were 40 cases of aseptic meningitis identified in patients taking Lamictal"
So we are saying between 1994 and 2009 there were 40 cases ascribed to lamotrigine, right? 15 years, about 3 cases per year identified. Looks like no fatalities.
To properly assess the risk you need to know how many people took lamotrigine over that time period.
Even within DS, about a third of the members of this community have taken it, ie 5,000
If the incidence of bipolar is roughly 1%, the population of the US is appx 300 million (ie 3 million bipolarians) and in that wider population there is the same level of lamotrigine prescription, 1 million people are taking it.
Putting all that together we have a 3 in 1 million chance of this every year you take lamotrigine.
Thanks to acuriousfish for the breakdown.