Pharmacological modulation of the effects of NMDA receptor antagonists, such as ketamine, may lead to development of novel therapeutic agents for psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia. Preclinical studies indicate that some ketamine effects may be mediated through increased glutamate release. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that lamotrigine, a drug reported to inhibit glutamate release, will reduce the neuropsychiatric effects of ketamine in humans. Behavioral and cognitive assessments were performed at baseline and after administration of the medications.
Further study is needed.
Arch Gen Psychiatry. Accepted for publication November 5, 1999. We thank Mark Cotrupe, Katherine Finkelstein, Nicholas Seneca, Katherine Colonese, Angelina Genovese, Patricia Barry, Elizabeth O'Donnel, Robert Sturwold, and Willie Wilford for their contributions to the study and Lisa Roach for assisting in data collection and analysis. All rights reserved.