Key result
Lamotrigine may increase serious, potentially lethal arrhythmia risk, especially with underlying cardiac disease.
Why the study?
The FDA is advising health care practitioners that lamotrigine may increase the risk of serious and potentially lethal arrythmias, particularly in patients with underlying cardiac disease or taking medications affecting heart conduction.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Supports arrhythmia vigilance with lamotrigine in cardiac patients; leaves open whether conduction effects represent a sodium channel blocker class phenomenon.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising health care practitioners that lamotrigine (Lamictal), used in managing seizures and bipolar disorder, may increase the risk of serious and potentially lethal arrythmias.The risk is greater if the patient has underlying cardiac disease or is taking medications that affect heart conduction.The FDA is requiring in vitro studies of other sodium channel blockers to determine if this risk is a class effect or unique to lamotrigine.
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Diane S. Aschenbrenner (2021) studied Seizures and bipolar disorder. Lamotrigine (Lamictal) was evaluated on Serious and potentially lethal arrhythmias. Lamotrigine may increase the risk of serious and potentially lethal arrhythmias, particularly in patients with underlying cardiac disease or taking conduction-affecting medications.
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