Lamotrigine is a widely used antiepileptic and mood-stabilizing drug which acts by blocking sodium and voltage-gated calcium channels and inhibiting glutamate-mediated excitatory neurotransmission. Additionally, there are data supporting a neuroprotective effect [Halonen et al. 2001]. Lamotrigine has also been shown to reduce symptoms of depersonalization and derealization [selleck screening library Sierra et al. 2001], although

the same group was unable to reproduce their results in a placebo-controlled follow-up study [Sierra et al. 2003]. Given that excitotoxic destruction of inhibitory interneurons may play a role in Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical at least some of the visual symptoms of HPPD (see below), lamotrigine was considered a possible treatment option Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical for this patient. Furthermore, lamotrigine is generally well tolerated with a relative lack of adverse effects, making it a drug of choice for youths and young adults. During a year-long trial of lamotrigine, with a maximum dose of 200 mg, the patient experienced significant relief from her symptoms, some of which disappeared Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical completely. Only the depersonalization and derealization proved somewhat refractory. It is important to note that the patient showed a marked improvement during the 200 mg dosing-in phase itself and remained stable even after the dose was reduced to 100 mg daily. To date, drug therapy for HPPD remains problematic. Abraham and colleagues

hypothesized that flashbacks may have their pathophysiological basis in the excitotoxic destruction of inhibitory Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical interneurons that carry serotonergic and GABAergic receptors on their cell bodies and terminals, respectively [Abraham et al. 1996]. Accordingly, benzodiazepines should be beneficial whereas atypical antipsychotics Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical such as risperidone are expected to be detrimental to the symptoms of HPPD [Alcantara, 1998; Young, 1997]. In a case report of two patients diagnosed with post-LSD schizophrenia, administration of risperidone (3 mg daily) resulted in a transient occurrence of visual disturbances that disappeared completely with continued antipsychotic therapy [Lerner et al. DNA ligase 2002b].

In another open study that included eight patients diagnosed with HPPD, clonidine at a daily dose of 3 x 0.025 mg for 2 months led to a significant improvement of symptoms in six patients [Lerner et al. 2000]. SSRIs appear to worsen symptoms of HPPD, at least during the initial phase of treatment: People with HPPD treated with SSRIs and atypical antipsychotics (risperidone, olanzapine) reported an initial exacerbation of their flashbacks with a subsequent gradual improvement over time [Markel et al. 1994; Bonson et al. 1996; Espiard et al. 2005; Aldurra and Crayton, 2001]. It remains unclear whether this was due to the mood-enhancing effect with concomitant mental stabilization, or an increase in the diminished serotonergic neurotransmission in the visual cortex.