Lamotrigine: An Unusual Etiology for Aseptic Meningitis

BACKGROUND:Several drugs have been reported to induce meningitis, most frequent being nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, intravenous immunoglobulins, and OKT3 antibodies. Although there are rare reports of lamotrigine-associated aseptic meningitis, this is only the second confirmed by re-exposure to the medication. CASE REPORT:We describe a case of lamotrigine-induced aseptic meningitis in a 36-year-old woman with hypothyroidism and bipolar disorder. Symptoms appeared within 2 weeks after starting the medication and resolved over several days after discontinuation. Her complex reappeared one week later within one hour after re-exposure to lamotrigine. CONCLUSION:Lamotrigine is a rarely reported and possibly underrecognized cause of aseptic meningitis. Physicians should be aware of aseptic meningitis as a potential reaction when prescribing lamotrigine or encountering cases of aseptic meningitis.