On this page about lamotrigine an you will find information relating to side effects, age restrictions, food interactions, whether the medicine is available at a government subsidised price on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme pbs as well as other useful information. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, rash, unusual sensitivity to light, muscle pains, chills, confusion, or drowsiness while taking lamotrigine. She has recently found that she is 6 weeks pregnant and is concerned about possible side effects of lamotrigine on her fetus. What lamotrigine tablets are and what they are used for. The mechanisms of these drug interactions are not completely understood but thought to be due to competition for hepatic glucuronide metabolism 6. Question one of my female patients has epilepsy and is currently receiving lamotrigine monotherapy. Use of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy and lactation. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Lamictal is the brand name of lamotrigine, an antiepileptic medication that belongs to a class of drugs known as anticonvulsants. Vulnerabilities to antiepileptic drug aed side effects in youth with epilepsy.
Lamotrigine oral tablet is a prescription medication used to. Concerns exist that use during pregnancy or breastfeeding may result in harm. It is possible for some individuals to experience side effects that they feel are serious or long lasting. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Pdf behavioral and cognitive effects of lamotrigine. Side effects view all lamictal lamotrigine, a mood stabilizer and anticonvulsant, is not approved by the u. Talk to your healthcare provider if you become or plan to become pregnant. From may 2009 to april 2010, approximately 9 million prescriptions were dispensed. Lamotrigines favorable tolerability is a welcome advance for patients with bipolar disorder, particularly in the areas that matter most to patients.
Hair loss has been reported as a rare side effect of lamotrigine treatment patrizi et al. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you have any of the following. Most have no side effects, or perhaps mild ones that go away by themselves or can be easily treated. Lamotrigine, sold as the brand name lamictal among others, is an anticonvulsant medication.
More about lamictal lamotrigine side effects during pregnancy or breastfeeding dosage information drug images drug interactions. If you are taking lamotrigine you may choose to breastfeed your baby, but watch for possible side effects, such as a rash, sleepiness, or poor sucking. Place odt formulation on tongue and allow to dissolve. Lamotrigine should be discontinued gradually over at least 2 wk, unless safety concerns require a more rapid withdrawal. Like other medicines, sandoz lamotrigine tablets can cause some sideeffects. The incidence of these rashes, which have included stevensjohnson syndrome, is approximately 0. Common lamotrigine side effects a study of fda data. Generic lamotrigine is covered by most medicare and insurance plans, but some pharmacy coupons or cash prices may be lower. If experienced, these tend to have a severe expression. It is also available as a chewable tablet and an orally dissolving tablet. Lamictal belongs to a group of medicines called antiepileptics. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. If you feel this has happened, speak with your doctor right away.
Find patient medical information for lamotrigine oral on webmd including its uses, side effects and safety, interactions, pictures, warnings and user ratings. As with most medications, side effects may occur when taking lamotrigine. Our lamictal side effects drug center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Everything you need to know about lamictal side effects and adverse reactions. Some side effects of lamotrigine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. Lamotrigine does not interfere with the efficacy of oral contraceptive agents or warfarin 116. Package leaflet information for the user lamotrigine. Patients must receive the correct kit to avoid over or under dosing. The most common side effects of lamotrigine are dizziness, visual disturbances, ataxia, nausea or vomiting, and nonserious rash. Lamotrigine is an inexpensive drug used to control seizures in adults and children with epilepsy and lennoxgastaut syndrome. Side effects may occur before any of the beneficial effects. What lamotrigine tablets are and what they are used for lamotrigine belongs to a group of medicines called antiepileptics. What are the most serious side effects of lamotrigine. Lamictal lamotrigine dose, indications, adverse effects. Safety and effectiveness of lamictal have not been established 1 as initial monotherapy.
Lamotrigine side effects some people who take lamotrigine may experience adverse reactions or side effects. Review driving restrictions for patients with seizures. Pdf hair loss as a side effect of lamotrigine treatment. Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you have any problems while taking sandoz lamotrigine tablets, even if you are not sure the problems are connected with the medicine, or are not listed in this leaflet. Common side effects of lamotrigine include dizziness, headache, sleepiness, and tremor. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat or a severe skin reaction fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling. Route onset peak duration lamotrigine lamoetrijeen. Using lamotrigine lamictal in children and adolescents. Effects of lamotrigine on attentiondeficit hyperactivity. Serious side effects include lack of red blood cells, increased risk of suicide, stevensjohnson syndrome, and allergic reactions. Food and drug administration fda for the treatment of any anxiety disorders, though it is approved to treat bipolar disorder and seizure disorders.
Like many psychotropic drugs, lamotrigine is secreted into breast milk, so women are advised to discuss with their doctors the risk and benefits of breastfeeding while taking lamotrigine. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. Medication errors have been reported with lamotrigine starter kits. Lamictal indications, side effects, and precautions. Lamotrigine can cause serious rashes requiring hospitalization and discontinuation of treatment. Mild to severe side effects, including stevensjohnson syndrome have occurred. Lamotrigine lamictal, lamictal cd, lamictal odt, lamictal xr is prescribed for treating seizures and mood episodes in people with bipolar disorder.
Lamotrigine fda prescribing information, side effects. Lamotrigine is an anticonvulsant drug which is hypothesized to exert anticonvulsant effects by acting as a glutamate antagonist14. The initial dose of lamictal xr should match the total daily dose of the. Learn about side effects, warnings, dosage, and more for lamotrigine oral tablet. Find information on lamotrigine lamictal in daviss drug guide including dosage, side effects, interactions, nursing implications, mechanism of action, half life, administration, and more. This is especially true for small, sick or premature babies.
Rareserious side effects a serious, lifethreatening skin rash also known as stevensjohnson syndrome may occur with the use of lamotrigine. Conversion from immediaterelease lamotrigine to lamictal xr. It is used to treat two conditionsepilepsy and bipolar disorder. It is used to treat two conditions epilepsy and bipolar disorder. If side effects occur when a patient is treated with lamotrigine as addon to carbamazepine, these side effects will usually disappear if the dosage of carbamazepine is reduced. A longlasting form, lamotrigine xr, is also available for once daily dosage. Temporal lobe epilepsy is a predisposing factor for sleep apnea. Rather, the danger it poses is at the start of treatment, when its moodlifting effects can easily be. There is a single report of breathing problems in a 16 day old baby whose mother was taking 850 mgday of lamotrigine. What is the most important information i should know about lamotrigine. Lamotrigine side effects bipolar disorder home page.
There are 3 different starter kits with titration schedules dependant on concurrent medications see below. This drug is slightly more popular than comparable drugs. Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. Lamictal side effects get emergency medical help if you have any signs of an allergic reaction to lamictal. Its important to recognize the most serious side effects, however. However, most infants have no reported side effects. Lamictal is indicated for conversion to monotherapy in adults aged 16 years and older with partialonset seizures who are receiving treatment with carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, primidone, or valproate as the single antiepileptic drug aed. Side effects of lamictal lamotrigine, warnings, uses. Lamotrigine monotherapy has been shown to be efficient in the treatment of childhood epilepsy, as reported in a study conducted by han et al. Lamotrigine is available as a tablet to be taken by mouth one to three times a day.
For approximately 65 million people in the world with epilepsy, antiepileptic drugs aeds are the mainstay of treatment. Only a tiny number of people who take lamictal have dangerous reactions to it. Aseptic meningitis, a serious inflammation of the protective membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord has been identified as a very rare but serious side effect of lamotrigine. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects. Lamictal is used alone or in combination with other drugs to. Best augmenting agents for side effects antihistamines andor topical corticosteroid for rash, pruritis many side effects cannot be improved with an augmenting agent because valproate can double lamotrigine levels antidepressants with caution because antidepressants can destabilize mood in. Lamictal odt lamotrigine orally disintegrating tablets, for oral use.