Course Summary

Lamotrigine is an anticonvulsant and mood stabilizer used primarily in treating epilepsy and bipolar disorder, working by inhibiting voltage-gated sodium channels to stabilize neuronal activity and reduce excitatory neurotransmission. It requires slow dose titration due to the risk of severe skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Healthcare providers must be vigilant about potential drug interactions and adverse effects and closely monitor patients for signs of toxicity and hypersensitivity reactions to optimize safety and efficacy.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

• Introduction
• Pharmacological Profile
  • Drug Category and Mechanism of Action
  • Indications, Dosing, and Administration
  • Hepatic and Renal Impairment: Dosing Adjustments
  • Available Forms
  • Geriatric Patients: Dosing Adjustment
• Clinical Applications
  • Primary Indications:
  • Off-Label Uses:
• Contraindications, Warnings and Precautions
  • Adverse Effects
  • Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
  • Drug-Drug Interactions
  • Monitoring
• Toxicity/Overdose
  • Medical Management: Immediate Interaction and Follow-Up
  • Prognosis and Follow-Up
• Lamotrigine in Bipolar Disorder: Long-Term Mood Stabilization
• Lamotrigine in Epilepsy: Seizure Control
• Off-Label Uses
• Case Study 1: Severe Rash
• Case Study 2: Lamotrigine and Mania
• Summary

Author

Richard Daniels, PharmD, BCPS

Richard “Cole” Daniels earned his Doctor of Pharmacy(PharmD) from the Skaggs School of Pharmacy at the University of Montana in 2018. Throughout pharmacy school he completed a 3-year internship at Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana in which he gained valuable experience in an acute care setting. Cole currently serves as a psychiatric clinical staff pharmacist at the Montana State Hospital. He has over 11 years of pharmacy experience having worked in several settings including retail, acute care, and inpatient psychiatric care. Cole has a diverse set of interests. However, acute care medicine, infectious disease, pain management, and asthma/COPD are a primary focus of his at the Montana State Hospital. He obtained board certification as a certified pharmacotherapy specialist in the Spring of 2022.