Lamotrigine may Increase Risk of Arrythmias

Abstract

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.