Lamotrigine Reduces Stress Symptoms of Chronic Anxiety in the Times of the Covid-19 Natural Catastrophe-A Case Report

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has been a worldwide chronic, stress-inducing natural catastrophe associated with increased emotional challenging. Patients with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), self-injury behavior, and obesity are predisposed to aggravation of their symptoms at this time, requiring new therapeutic approaches to balance their disrupted neuro-hormonal stress axis. Here we present our observations of an off-label treatment with lamotrigine in an adolescent girl with PTSD, self-injury behavior, and obesity. Lamotrigine was an efficacious pharmaceutical intervention that helped the patient deal with chronic stress and associated anxiety. The results are discussed based on our previous basic research outcomes in animals and humans that focused on the glutamate-cortisol circuits within the limbic brain.

Understanding Lamotrigine’s Role in the CNS and Possible Future Evolution

“…Pham et al demonstrated that using the LTG made it possible to observe a reduction in stress-related symptoms, including self-injurious behavior, as well as a reduction in body weight, effects anticipated and supported by our prior fundamental research findings in people and animals. Additionally, a recurrence of the localized symptoms occurred after decreasing the treatment dose of LTG, which is consistent with earlier findings [ 90 , 91 ].…”

Neurogenic Interventions for Fear Memory via Modulation of the Hippocampal Function and Neural Circuits

“…A recent case study has reported that healthcare workers, veterans, and children may currently be particularly vulnerable to PTSD and stress- or fear-related disorders due to the COVID-19 pandemic [ 98 ]. In addition, there have been reports of successful cases of anxiety and stress relief by prescribing therapeutic drugs to such individuals [ 99 , 100 ]. However, the research on neurocircuitry approaches in the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and fear-related disorders remains inadequate.…”