Lamictal has been approved in over 30 markets for the treatment of bipolar disorder. It is joined by valproate and carbamazepine, anticonvulsant drugs which later received licenses for bipolar disorder. Unlike other mood stabilizers (such as lithium, valproate, and carbamazepine) that are effective primarily in mania, Lamictal appears to primarily work by stabilizing the depressive symptoms of patients. These symtoms, related to the depressive pole, are responsible for the greatest amount of suffering and disability.

Efficacy:

• Prevents depression: first maintenance therapy with proven efficacy in the prevention of depression following manic or depressive episodes in bipolar disorder
• Does not destabilize mood: prevents bipolar depression without destabilizing mood 
• Improves quality of life: improves HR-QoL regardless of mood polarity

Tolerability:

• Tolerability similar to placebo: Lamictal has a tolerability profile similar to that of placebo.
• No weight gain: Lamictal is not associated with weight gain
• 13 years of experience: Lamictal has been prescribed to over 5.5 million patients

General/positioning:

• A new approach: a new approach to managing bipolar depression
• Introduce at any phase: can be introduced at any phase of bipolar disorder to prevent a depressive episode
• Can be used in combination: can be used in combination with other medications, including lithium (predictable and manageable drug–drug interactions)