Compared with other pharmacotherapies for bipolar disorder, lamotrigine shows benefit in terms of its effects on weight gain (specifically, a lack of adverse weight gain), and cognition, with evidence suggesting that lamotrigine may improve cognitive functioning.3 However, a careful initiation and dose titration schedule should be followed if lamotrigine is administered with either valproate or sertraline, to avoid interaction-induced toxicity and skin rash.3
References:
1. Hashimoto Y, Kotake K, Watanabe N, et al. Lamotrigine in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2021; 9 (9): CD013575.
2. Bowden CL, Calabrese JR, Sachs G, et al; Lamictal 606 Study Group. A placebo-controlled 18-month trial of lamotrigine and lithium maintenance treatment in recently manic or hypomanic patients with bipolar I disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2003; 60 (4): 392–400.
3. Ng F, Hallam K, Lucas N, Berk M. The role of lamotrigine in the management of bipolar disorder. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2007; 3 (4): 463–474.