Active Learning Template for Medications
Student Name: Mackenzie Guinn
Medication: Lamotrigine
Category Class: Mood stabilizing Antiepileptics
Expected Pharmacological Action / Mechanism
Help treat and manage bipolar disorders by various mechanisms
Slowing the entrance of sodium and calcium back into the neuron and thus, extending
the time it takes for the nerve to return to its active state
Potentiating the inhibitory effects of gamma butyric acid (GABA)
Inhibiting glutamic acid (glutamate), which in turn suppresses CNS excitation
Therapeutic Use
Treatment and prevention of relapse of mania and depressive episodes. Especially
useful for clients who have mixed mania and rapid cycling bipolar disorders.
Complications (Adverse Effects)
Double or blurred vision, dizziness, headache, nausea, and vomiting
Serious skin rashes (including Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
Contraindications/Precautions
Pregnancy Risk Category C, but can cause cleft lip and palate if taken during he first
trimester. Clients should discuss breastfeeding while taking lamotrigine with the
provider
Interactions
Carbamazepine, phenytoin, and phenobarbital promote liver drug-metabolizing
enzymes, thereby decreasing the effect of lamotrigine
Valproic acid inhibits medication-metabolizing enzymes and thus increases the half-
life of lamotrigine
Oral contraceptives (Lamotrigine can reduce progestin levels; estrogen-containing
contraceptives can reduce levels of lamotrigine
Evaluation of Medication Effectiveness
Relief of manifestations of acute mania (flight of ideas, excessive talking, agitation) or
depression (fatigue, poor appetite, psychomotor retardation)
Mood stability
Ability to perform ADLs
Improved sleeping and eating habits
Appropriate interaction with peers
Student Name: Mackenzie Guinn
Medication: Lamotrigine
Category Class: Mood stabilizing Antiepileptics
Expected Pharmacological Action / Mechanism
Help treat and manage bipolar disorders by various mechanisms
Slowing the entrance of sodium and calcium back into the neuron and thus, extending
the time it takes for the nerve to return to its active state
Potentiating the inhibitory effects of gamma butyric acid (GABA)
Inhibiting glutamic acid (glutamate), which in turn suppresses CNS excitation
Therapeutic Use
Treatment and prevention of relapse of mania and depressive episodes. Especially
useful for clients who have mixed mania and rapid cycling bipolar disorders.
Complications (Adverse Effects)
Double or blurred vision, dizziness, headache, nausea, and vomiting
Serious skin rashes (including Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
Contraindications/Precautions
Pregnancy Risk Category C, but can cause cleft lip and palate if taken during he first
trimester. Clients should discuss breastfeeding while taking lamotrigine with the
provider
Interactions
Carbamazepine, phenytoin, and phenobarbital promote liver drug-metabolizing
enzymes, thereby decreasing the effect of lamotrigine
Valproic acid inhibits medication-metabolizing enzymes and thus increases the half-
life of lamotrigine
Oral contraceptives (Lamotrigine can reduce progestin levels; estrogen-containing
contraceptives can reduce levels of lamotrigine
Evaluation of Medication Effectiveness
Relief of manifestations of acute mania (flight of ideas, excessive talking, agitation) or
depression (fatigue, poor appetite, psychomotor retardation)
Mood stability
Ability to perform ADLs
Improved sleeping and eating habits
Appropriate interaction with peers
