Rhabdomyolysis Secondary to Lamotrigine Toxicity: A Case Report and Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46570/utjms-2026-1338Keywords:
lamotrigine, lamictal, Rhabdomyolysis, overdose, toxicity, antiepileptic drugsAbstract
Lamotrigine, an anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing medication, is used for managing seizure disorders and bipolar disorder. However, it can cause side effects ranging from mild hypersensitivity reactions to severe conditions like Stevens-Johnson syndrome. In overdose cases, lamotrigine primarily impacts the central nervous system and cardiovascular system, potentially leading to seizures and cardiac conduction abnormalities. This report describes a rare case of rhabdomyolysis in a 36-year-old female who overdosed on lamotrigine. The patient, with a history of seizures, anxiety, and depression, presented with nausea, abdominal pain, and elevated myoglobin and creatine kinase levels. She was treated with normal saline for rhabdomyolysis and improved over four days. This case highlights the need for awareness of unusual complications like rhabdomyolysis in lamotrigine toxicity and the importance of prompt management. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind these rare effects and refine treatment approaches.
References
Alabi A, Todd A, Husband A, Reilly J. Safety profile of lamotrigine in overdose. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. 2016;6(6):369-381. doi:10.1177/2045125316656707
Alyahya, B., Friesen, M., Nauche, B., & Laliberté, M. (2017). Acute lamotrigine overdose: a systematic review of published adult and pediatric cases. Clinical Toxicology, 56(2), 81–89. https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2017.1370096
Castanares-Zapatero D, Wittebole X, Huberlant V, Morunglav M, Hantson P. Lipid emulsion as rescue therapy in lamotrigine overdose. J Emerg Med. 2012 Jan;42(1):48-51. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2010.11.055. Epub 2011 May 28. PMID: 21621362.
Schwartz MD, Geller RJ. Seizures and altered mental status after lamotrigine overdose. Ther Drug Monit. 2007 Dec;29(6):843-4. doi: 10.1097/FTD.0b013e31815bf239. PMID: 18043485.
Karaoulanis SE, Syngelakis M, Fokas K. Rhabdomyolysis after lamotrigine overdose: a case report and review of the literature. Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2016 Feb 24;15:6. doi: 10.1186/s12991-016-0093-3. PMID: 26913053; PMCID: PMC4765213
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Rida Naqvi (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).

