Lamotrigine augmentation of serotonin reuptake inhibitors in severe and long-term treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder. 2013

Manuel Arrojo-Romero, and María Tajes Alonso, and Jose de Leon
Department of Psychiatry, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario, 15701 Santiago de Compostela, Spain ; Servicio de Salud Mental y Asistencia a Drogodependencia Servicio Gallego de Salud, 15703 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

The treatment recommendations in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) after lack of response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) include augmentation with other drugs, particularly clomipramine, a more potent serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI), or antipsychotics. We present two cases of response to lamotrigine augmentation in treatment-refractory OCD; each received multiple SRI trials over a >10-year period. The first patient had eleven years of treatment with multiple combinations including clomipramine and SSRIs. She had a >50% decrease of Y-BOCS (from 29 to 14) by augmenting paroxetine (60 mg/day) with lamotrigine (100 mg/day). The second patient had 22 years of treatment with multiple combinations, including combinations of SSRIs with clomipramine and risperidone. She had an almost 50% decrease of Y-BOCS (from 30 to 16) and disappearance of tics by augmenting clomipramine (225 mg/d) with lamotrigine (200 mg/day). These two patients were characterized by lack of response to multiple treatments, making a placebo response to lamotrigine augmentation unlikely. Prospective randomized trials in treatment-resistant OCD patients who do not respond to combinations of SSRIs with clomipramine and/or antipsychotics are needed, including augmentation with lamotrigine. Until these trials are available, our cases suggest that clinicians may consider lamotrigine augmentation in such treatment-resistant OCD patients.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries

Related Publications

Manuel Arrojo-Romero, and María Tajes Alonso, and Jose de Leon
April 2016, Iranian journal of psychiatry,
Manuel Arrojo-Romero, and María Tajes Alonso, and Jose de Leon
November 2012, Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England),
Manuel Arrojo-Romero, and María Tajes Alonso, and Jose de Leon
January 2002, International clinical psychopharmacology,
Manuel Arrojo-Romero, and María Tajes Alonso, and Jose de Leon
June 2000, The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry,
Manuel Arrojo-Romero, and María Tajes Alonso, and Jose de Leon
March 2019, Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry,
Manuel Arrojo-Romero, and María Tajes Alonso, and Jose de Leon
January 2005, The Journal of clinical psychiatry,
Manuel Arrojo-Romero, and María Tajes Alonso, and Jose de Leon
January 2015, The Journal of clinical psychiatry,
Manuel Arrojo-Romero, and María Tajes Alonso, and Jose de Leon
September 1997, The American journal of psychiatry,
Manuel Arrojo-Romero, and María Tajes Alonso, and Jose de Leon
April 2011, Advances in therapy,
Manuel Arrojo-Romero, and María Tajes Alonso, and Jose de Leon
June 1995, Drug and therapeutics bulletin,
Copied contents to your clipboard!