Depression in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy predicts lamotrigine-induced rash: a short-term observational study.

Lamotrigine (LTG) has a good efficacy and tolerability as initial monotherapy for patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy (NDE). However, the occurrence of skin rash is one of the main reasons to discontinue LTG. On the basis of a high frequency of adverse effects associated with antiepileptic drugs in depressed patients, this study investigated whether depression is a likely predictor of LTG-induced rash in patients with NDE. Eligible patients received LTG monotherapy and were observed for 12 weeks. Twenty (27%) of 74 enrolled patients had depression. Ten patients (13.5%) developed a skin rash within 5 weeks. Depression was a sole predictor of LTG-induced rash (OR=9.154, 95% CI 2.077-40.344, p=0.003).