Two medicines, side by side
Lamotrigine vs lithium
Lamotrigine and lithium are both labeled for bipolar disorder. Drugs@FDA records approvals of lamotrigine since 1994 and of lithium since 1970. Pharmacies paid $0.0268 per lamotrigine 25 mg tablet and $0.104 per lithium carbonate 300 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Lamotrigine's other strengths are brand-only: $2.86 per mL (Subvenite 10 mg/mL suspension). How each works, in its label's words: Lamotrigine, “The precise mechanism(s) by which lamotrigine exerts its anticonvulsant action are unknown.”; Lithium, “The mechanism of action of lithium as a mood stabilizing agent is unknown.”
Check it at the source: the lamotrigine FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 10, 2025); the lithium FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 23, 2025).
Highlights of the lamotrigine record
Lamotrigine (Lamictal) · label of October 10, 2025
SERIOUS SKIN RASHES LAMICTAL can cause serious rashes requiring hospitalization and discontinuation of treatment. The incidence of these rashes, which have included Stevens-Johnson syndrome, is approximately 0.3% to 0.8% in pediatric patients (aged 2 to 17 years) and 0.08% to 0.3% in adults receiving LAMICTAL. One rash-related death was reported in a prospectively followed cohort of 1,983 pediatric patients (aged 2 to 16 years) with epilepsy taking LAMICTAL as adjunctive therapy.
Used for
From the label: indicationsLAMICTAL is indicated for: Epilepsy–adjunctive therapy in patients aged 2 years and older: • partial-onset seizures. • primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures. • generalized seizures of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 27, 1994
- Generic labelers
- 49 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0268 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 10
Highlights of the lithium record
Lithium (Lithobid) · label of December 23, 2025
LITHIUM TOXICITY Lithium toxicity is closely related to serum lithium concentrations, and can occur at doses close to therapeutic concentrations. Facilities for prompt and accurate serum lithium determinations should be available before initiating treatment [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.3 ), Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )]. WARNING: LITHIUM TOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning.
Used for
From the label: indicationsLithium is a mood-stabilizing agent indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of bipolar I disorder: • Treatment of acute manic and mixed episodes in patients 7 years and older [see Clinical Studies ( 14 )] • Maintenance treatment in patients 7 years and older [see Clinical Studies (14)] Lithium is a mood-stabilizing agent indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of bipolar I disorder: • Treatment of acute manic and mixed episodes in patients 7 years and older ( 1 ) • Maintenance treatment in patients 7 years and older […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 6, 1970
- Generic labelers
- 24 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.104 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 4
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Lamotrigine label of October 10, 2025, Lithium label of December 23, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do lamotrigine and lithium differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Lamotrigine, “The precise mechanism(s) by which lamotrigine exerts its anticonvulsant action are unknown.”; Lithium, “The mechanism of action of lithium as a mood stabilizing agent is unknown.”
Both are in FDA's class mood stabilizers.
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: lamotrigine since 2006; lithium since 1986 (Drugs@FDA).
| Lamotrigine | Lithium | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Seizures and epilepsy, Bipolar disorder | Bipolar disorder |
| Pharmacologic class | Anti-epileptic Agent, Mood Stabilizer | Mood Stabilizer |
| How it works (label) | The precise mechanism(s) by which lamotrigine exerts its anticonvulsant action are unknown. | The mechanism of action of lithium as a mood stabilizing agent is unknown. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | The elimination half-life of lithium is approximately 18 to 36 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 27, 1994 | April 6, 1970 |
| First generic approved | June 21, 2006 | May 21, 1986 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 49 labelers | 24 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0268 per tablet (Lamotrigine 25 mg tablet) | $0.104 per capsule (Lithium carbonate 300 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -12% | -6% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 10 | 4 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 130,994 | 41,678 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Lithium label, warnings and precautionsIf concomitant use of lithium with other serotonergic drugs is clinically warranted, inform patients of the increased risk for serotonin syndrome and monitor for symptoms.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to lamotrigine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions