Lamictal Medication - Uses & Side Effects

Brand name: Lamictal

Generic Name: lamotrigine

Lamictal is the brand name of an antiseizure medication called lamotrigine. Lamictal has been proven to control seizures with the tolerability benefits you need. In rare cases, Lamictal has been associated with severe and/or life-threatening rashes and hypersensitivity reactions. Lamictal tablets are supplied for oral administration as 25-mg (white), 100-mg (peach), 150-mg (cream), and 200-mg (blue) tablets. It is the first medication since lithium granted food and drug Administration (FDA)-approval for the maintenance treatment of bipolar I. It is the brand name used in the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, and other countries for the seizure medicine lamotrigine. It is usually prescribed with other medications that also help to control the convulsions, although sometimes lamotrigine may be used by itself. Lamotrigine is in a class of medications called anticonvulsants. It works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain.

Lamictal Dosage:

• Recommended initial dosing begins at less than 1mg for epilepsy and 25mg for bipolar disorder, and a therapeutic response may require weeks or months of subsequent dose escalations.
• Generally, the therapeutic range for epilepsy is 300mg-500mg a day.
• GlaxoSmithKline suggests maintenance doses up to 500mg for epilepsy, and 400mg for bipolar disorder.
• The number of tablets that you take depends on the strength of the medicine.

Uses of Lamictal:

• Lamictal is indicated as adjunctive therapy for partial seizures in adults and pediatric patients.
• It is also indicated as adjunctive therapy for the generalized seizures of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in adult and pediatric patients.
• Lamictal is also used in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
• Lamictal may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
• It is also used for the type of severe childhood epilepsy (Lennox-Gastaut syndrome).

Side Effects of Lamictal:

Some common side effects reported with this medicine include:

• In rare cases, Lamictal has been associated with severe and/or life-threatening rashes and hypersensitivity reactions.
• Swelling of the lips.
• Dizziness or drowsiness.
• Sores in the mouth or around the eyes.
• Swollen lymph glands.
• Lack of coordination.
• Heartburn.
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
• Stomach, back, or joint pain.
• Problems with ears or teeth.
• Common side effects include headaches, dizziness and insomnia.
• Muscle aches are another fairly common side effect.

Warnings and precautions before taking Lamictal:

• This medicine may cause dizziness and double vision. As a result it could reduce your ability to drive or operate machinery safely. You should discuss this with your doctor.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking lamotrigine, call your doctor.
• If you are going to have surgery, tell your prescriber or health care professional that you are taking lamotrigine.
• Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart, kidney, or liver disease or a blood disorder.
• Do not stop taking Lamictal without first talking to your doctor, even if you feel better. It is important to continue taking Lamictal to prevent symptoms from recurring.
• Do not drive, operate dangerous machinery, or perform other hazardous activities until you know how Lamictal affects you.
• Do not take more or less of this medicine, and do not take it more or less often than your doctor ordered.

Drug Interaction:

• Other medications can increase or decrease the effectiveness of lamotrigine.
• The valproate antiepileptic drugs (divalproex, Depakote; valproate sodium, Depakon; valproic acid, Depakene) inhibit the metabolism of lamotrigine, more than doubling its half-life.
• The effect of lamotrigine on plasma concentrations of carbamazepine-epoxide is unclear.
• Lamictal has no appreciable effect on steady-state phenytoin plasma concentrations in patients with epilepsy

Overdose:

• If you are taking lamictal and after taking you feel that the overdose is suspected, then contact with your doctor immediately.
• Symptoms of a Lamictal overdose include dizziness, drowsiness, headache, increased seizures, and unconsciousness.
• In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
• If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

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