In case 2 valproic acid was not able to stop rapid recurrences due to lithium discontinuation. The rapid cycling was stopped with the addition of memantine. In case 3 the patient had a rapid cycling bipolar II disorder treated with lithium and lamotrigine with poor response. She had to discontinue both drugs because of adverse

reactions. The rapid cycling course was stopped with memantine and a small dose of valproic acid. Moreover, we previously observed that the drug might be effective Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical also as monotherapy in the prevention of affective recurrences occurring after lithium discontinuation [Serra et al. 2013]. Although we observed a good response to memantine administration 4 months after lithium discontinuation (case 2), the mood-stabilizing effect of memantine seems to be more effective (as a monotherapy [Serra et al. 2013]) when it is Lonafarnib supplier administered before lithium discontinuation Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical (case 3: 9 months before). In case 1 memantine was added immediately after lithium discontinuation and the stabilization of the rapid cycling bipolar course was

obtained with the reinstatement of a subtherapeutic dose of lithium (serum level 0.2 mmol/L). Although Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical memantine is used in combination with another mood stabilizer, it does not diminish the clinical relevance of our observations. In our patients lithium discontinuation led to a malignant course that did not respond to valproic acid as monotherapy. We observed a potent mood-stabilizing action of the combination of memantine with lamotrigine or valproic acid, drugs that usually are not able to stop the rapid Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical cycling course when used as monotherapy [Kemp et al. 2012]. Moreover, even lithium, before its discontinuation and the addition of memantine, was administered in combination with another mood stabilizer,

because of the severity of the bipolar disorder course. These case histories are consistent with our previous observations suggesting that memantine has a long-lasting Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical mood-stabilizing effect. As to the mechanism of action, we have observed that memantine prevents the bipolar-like behaviour induced by antidepressants in rats [Demontis et al. 2012], and suggested that the prevention of dopamine antagonist receptor sensitization (mania) by memantine results in an antimanic effect, which, in turn, prevents the following desensitization associated SB-3CT with depression [Serra, 2010]. Regardless of the mechanism of action, these case reports confirm our previous observations, and suggest that memantine may be considered a useful replacement for lithium in the prevention of affective recurrences observed in patients who have to discontinue long-term lithium prophylaxis because of severe medical complications. Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank Denis Greenan for his valuable contribution to the drafting of the paper.