Lamotrigine Blood Test

Lamotrigine is an antiepileptic drug (AED) of the phenyltriazine class that is chemically unrelated to existing AEDs. The precise mechanism of action is unknown although it has been postulated that lamotrigine inhibits voltage-sensitive sodium channels thereby stabilizing neuronal membranes and consequently modulating presynaptic transmitter release of excitatory amino acids (eg, glutamate, aspartate). Lamotrigine is 55% bound to plasma proteins and is metabolized predominantly to an inactive 2-N-glucuronide conjugate. Peak plasma concentration occurs at 1.4 to 4.8 hours following oral administration. The elimination half-life varies from 12 to 70 hours. The longer half-lives are observed in patients on concomitant valproic acid therapy.