The effect of lamotrigine augmentation of clozapine in a sample of treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Schizophr Res. 2007 Jul;93(1-3):109-16. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2007.02.009. Epub 2007 Mar 26.

Abstract

Based on the evidence that lamotrigine added to clozapine in refractory schizophrenic patients has reported promising results, the present 24-week double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial had the aim to explore the efficacy of lamotrigine add-on pharmacotherapy on clinical symptomatology and cognitive functioning in a sample of treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients receiving clozapine. After clinical and neurocognitive assessments patients were randomly allocated to receive, in a double-blind design, either up to 200 mg/day of lamotrigine or a placebo. A final sample of fifty-one patients completed the study. The results obtained indicate that lamotrigine added to stable clozapine treatment showed a beneficial effect on the negative, positive and general psychopathological symptomatology in a sample of treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients. Regarding cognitive functions, improvement was observed in some explored areas, such as attentional resistance to interference, verbal fluency and executive functioning. The findings provide evidence that lamotrigine augmentation of clozapine treatment is well tolerated and may be proposed as an effective therapeutic strategy to improve outcome in treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anticonvulsants / administration & dosage*
  • Anticonvulsants / adverse effects
  • Antipsychotic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antipsychotic Agents / adverse effects
  • Attention / drug effects
  • Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale
  • Clozapine / administration & dosage*
  • Clozapine / adverse effects
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Resistance
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lamotrigine
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Schizophrenia / diagnosis
  • Schizophrenia / drug therapy*
  • Schizophrenic Psychology*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Triazines / administration & dosage*
  • Triazines / adverse effects

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Triazines
  • Clozapine
  • Lamotrigine