A topic in Clinical Evidence summarizes the evidence on lamotrigine for the treatment of bipolar depression. A systematic review identified one RCT including 195 people with bipolar type 1 depression. Lamotrigine (200mg or 50mg daily) did not significantly improve the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score over 7 weeks compared with placebo, but it did improve Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale score (-13.3 vs -7.8, p<0.05) and increase the proportion of people who responded to treatment measured by Clinical Global Impression Scale score. Clinical Evidence category: likely to be beneficial.
Comment: The grade of evidence was downgraded by sparse data.