The impact of pregnancy and childbirth on the metabolism of lamotrigine

This study was performed to clarify alterations in lamotrigine (LTG) clearance during pregnancy and childbirth. Fourteen women on LTG monotherapy had LTG concentration samples obtained before conception and monthly. LTG apparent clearance, weight-adjusted relative clearance, and percentages of baseline clearance significantly differed between preconception baseline and each trimester and between trimesters. LTG clearance progressively increased until 32 weeks' gestational age, reaching a peak of >330% of baseline, and then began to decline.