FEMALE GENITAL DISORDER AS ADVERSE SYMPTOM OF LAMOTRIGINE TREATMENT -A SEROTONINERGIC EFFECT

The new anticonvulsant, lamotrigine, is becoming an important tool in the treatment of bipolar disorder, including bipolar depression. Its e fficacy in bipolar depression might be linked to its inhibition of ser otonin uptake. We present the case of a female schizoaffective patient successfully treated with 400 mg of lamotrigine developing considerab le genital disorder, a side effect well known from the treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). We suggest that femal e genital disorder induced by high doses of lamotrigine is a serotonin ergic side effect.