Korean J Psychopharmacol.
2001 Jun;12(2):106-114.
New Treatment Option for Bipolar Depression:Focus on Novel Antiepileptic Drugs
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Psychiatry, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. pae@cmc.cuk.ac.kr
Abstract
- Some novel antiepileptic drugs including lamotrigine and so on appear to have mood-stabilizing properties. Lamotrigine has the promising effets in terms of its efficacy in the treatment of bipolar depression. But its potential for developing fatal Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a weakpoint to apply in clinical field. Gabapentin appears to have partial effects in non-refractory bipolar depression according to uncontrolled and natu-ralistic data. Topiramate also has mild to moderate mood stabilizing efficacy in the treatment of bipolar depression and also, it has the advantage of losing weight, occasionally. In conclusion, with data to date, limited data show the possibility of novel antiepileptic drugs in the treatment of bipolar depression, but further research is required before clinicians can definitely grasp theses agents as inevitable option in the treatment of bipolar depression.
