Case-control study, 2015
Does lamotrigine reduce menstrual cycle-related mood changes in women with bipolar disorder?
Women with treated bipolar disorder showed greater mood and sleep changes across the menstrual cycle compared to healthy women. Women taking lamotrigine had less mood fluctuation and were more similar to healthy women than those not taking lamotrigine.
What they did
Researchers compared daily mood and sleep ratings over approximately 4 menstrual cycles in 42 women with bipolar disorder taking lamotrigine, 30 women with bipolar disorder not taking lamotrigine, and 13 healthy controls, all with natural menstrual cycles.
What they found
Women with bipolar disorder had lower average mood, longer nighttime sleep, and greater mood and sleep changes across cycle phases than healthy controls. Women with bipolar disorder taking lamotrigine had less mood change within and across cycle phases and were more similar to healthy controls. Medications affecting GABA-A receptors, when combined with hormonal contraceptives, showed improved mood ratings.
What it means for you
Women with bipolar disorder may experience stronger cycle-related mood swings. Lamotrigine may reduce this cycling. The finding about combining medications with hormonal contraceptives needs more research. A limitation is that this was observational, not an experiment.
42
women with bipolar disorder on lamotrigine
30
women with bipolar disorder without lamotrigine
4
menstrual cycles tracked
About the study
- Original title
- Lamotrigine and GABAA receptor modulators interact with menstrual cycle phase and oral contraceptives to regulate mood in women with bipolar disorder
- Authors
- Robakis TK, Holtzman J, Stemmle PG et al.
- Journal
- Journal of affective disorders
- Year
- 2015
- Study design
- Case-control study
- Participants
- 42
- What was tested
- Lamotrigine and other mood-stabilizing medications
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2014.12.040
Topics
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