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Test ID: LAMO    
Lamotrigine, Serum

Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Monitoring serum concentration of lamotrigine

 

Assessing compliance

 

Adjusting lamotrigine dose in patients receiving other anticonvulsant drugs which interact pharmacokinetically with lamotrigine

Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Lamotrigine (Lamictal) is approved for therapy of bipolar I disorder and a wide variety of seizure disorders including Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and partial seizures. Its many off-label uses include treatment of migraine, trigeminal neuralgia, and treatment-refractory depression. Lamotrigine inhibits glutamate release (an excitatory amino acid) and voltage-sensitive sodium channels to stabilize neuronal membranes; it also weakly inhibits the 5-HT3 (serotonin) receptor.

 

Lamotrigine oral bioavailability is very high (approximately 98%).The drug is metabolized by glucuronic acid conjugation to inactive metabolites. The half-life is 25 to 33 hours in adults, but decreases with concurrent use of phenytoin or carbamazepine (13-14 hours), and increases with concomitant valproic acid therapy (59-70 hours), renal dysfunction, or hepatic impairment. The therapeutic range is relatively wide, 2.5 mcg/mL to 15 mcg/mL for most individuals. Common adverse effects are dizziness, ataxia, blurred or double vision, nausea, or vomiting.

Reference Values Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

Patients receiving therapeutic doses usually have lamotrigine concentrations of 2.5-15.0 mcg/mL.

Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

The serum concentration should be interpreted in the context of the patient's clinical response and may provide useful information in patients showing poor response (noncompliance?) or adverse effects, particularly when lamotrigine is co-administered with other anticonvulsant drugs.

 

While most patients show response to the drug when the trough concentration is in the range of 2.5 mcg/mL to 15.0 mcg/mL, and show signs of toxicity when the peak serum concentration is >20 mcg/mL, some patients can tolerate peak concentrations as high as 70 mcg/mL.

Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

No significant cautionary statements

Clinical Reference Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Johannessen SI, Battino D, Berry DJ, et al: Therapeutic drug monitoring of the newer antiepileptic drugs. Ther Drug Monit 2003;25(3):347-363

2. Johannessen SI, Landmark CJ: Value of therapeutic drug monitoring in epilepsy. Expert Rev Neurother 2008;8(6):929-939

3. Johannessen SI, Tomson T: Pharmacokinetic variability of newer antiepileptic drugs: when is monitoring needed? Clin Pharmacokinet 2006;45(11):1061-1075

4. Physician's Desk Reference. 61th Edition. Montvale, NJ: Thomson PDR, 2007

5. Goodman & Gilman's: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 10th Edition. New York. McGraw-Hill Book Company 2001