Question one of my female patients has epilepsy and is currently receiving lamotrigine monotherapy. Vulnerabilities to antiepileptic drug aed side effects in youth with epilepsy. Learn about side effects, warnings, dosage, and more for lamotrigine oral tablet. Most have no side effects, or perhaps mild ones that go away by themselves or can be easily treated. Common lamotrigine side effects a study of fda data. Rareserious side effects a serious, lifethreatening skin rash also known as stevensjohnson syndrome may occur with the use of lamotrigine. Only a tiny number of people who take lamictal have dangerous reactions to it. Temporal lobe epilepsy is a predisposing factor for sleep apnea. 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. Lamotrigine does not interfere with the efficacy of oral contraceptive agents or warfarin 116. Lamictal belongs to a group of medicines called antiepileptics. Conversion from immediaterelease lamotrigine to lamictal xr. Lamotrigine lamictal, lamictal cd, lamictal odt, lamictal xr is prescribed for treating seizures and mood episodes in people with bipolar disorder.
Some side effects of lamotrigine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. If experienced, these tend to have a severe expression. What is the most important information i should know about lamotrigine. It is possible for some individuals to experience side effects that they feel are serious or long lasting. Lamotrigine is an anticonvulsant drug which is hypothesized to exert anticonvulsant effects by acting as a glutamate antagonist14. 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. A longlasting form, lamotrigine xr, is also available for once daily dosage.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you become or plan to become pregnant. 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. She has recently found that she is 6 weeks pregnant and is concerned about possible side effects of lamotrigine on her fetus. Use of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy and lactation. Lamotrigine fda prescribing information, side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. Side effects of lamictal lamotrigine, warnings, uses. 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. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur.
As with most medications, side effects may occur when taking lamotrigine. Medication errors have been reported with lamotrigine starter kits. It is used to treat two conditions epilepsy and bipolar disorder. It is also available as a chewable tablet and an orally dissolving tablet. In a multidrug regiment, antiepileptic drugs may affect lamotrigine clearance, and dosage adjustment of lamictal might be required see. There are 3 different starter kits with titration schedules dependant on concurrent medications see below. This is especially true for small, sick or premature babies. Lamictal odt lamotrigine orally disintegrating tablets, for oral use. However, most infants have no reported side effects. If you feel this has happened, speak with your doctor right away.
Review driving restrictions for patients with seizures. 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. Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. Place odt formulation on tongue and allow to dissolve. From may 2009 to april 2010, approximately 9 million prescriptions were dispensed.
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. The initial dose of lamictal xr should match the total daily dose of the. Lamictal side effects get emergency medical help if you have any signs of an allergic reaction to lamictal. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. This drug is slightly more popular than comparable drugs. Like other medicines, sandoz lamotrigine tablets can cause some sideeffects. The most common side effects of lamotrigine are dizziness, visual disturbances, ataxia, nausea or vomiting, and nonserious rash. The mechanisms of these drug interactions are not completely understood but thought to be due to competition for hepatic glucuronide metabolism 6.
Lamotrigine is an inexpensive drug used to control seizures in adults and children with epilepsy and lennoxgastaut syndrome. Package leaflet information for the user lamotrigine. Lamotrigine is available as a tablet to be taken by mouth one to three times a day. 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. Side effects may occur before any of the beneficial effects. Patients must receive the correct kit to avoid over or under dosing. 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. Side effects view all lamictal lamotrigine, a mood stabilizer and anticonvulsant, is not approved by the u. 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. Lamotrigines favorable tolerability is a welcome advance for patients with bipolar disorder, particularly in the areas that matter most to patients. Effects of lamotrigine on attentiondeficit hyperactivity. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.
Route onset peak duration lamotrigine lamoetrijeen. What lamotrigine tablets are and what they are used for lamotrigine belongs to a group of medicines called antiepileptics. Lamotrigine side effects bipolar disorder home page. What are the most serious side effects of lamotrigine. Rather, the danger it poses is at the start of treatment, when its moodlifting effects can easily be. Common side effects of lamotrigine include dizziness, headache, sleepiness, and tremor. Mild to severe side effects, including stevensjohnson syndrome have occurred. Hair loss has been reported as a rare side effect of lamotrigine treatment patrizi et al.
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. Lamictal indications, side effects, and precautions. 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, sold as the brand name lamictal among others, is an anticonvulsant medication. Safety and effectiveness of lamictal have not been established 1 as initial monotherapy. Lamotrigine can cause serious rashes requiring hospitalization and discontinuation of treatment.
Using lamotrigine lamictal in children and adolescents. It is used to treat two conditionsepilepsy and bipolar disorder. 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. Lamictal is the brand name of lamotrigine, an antiepileptic medication that belongs to a class of drugs known as anticonvulsants. Lamotrigine oral tablet is a prescription medication used to. Find information on lamotrigine lamictal in daviss drug guide including dosage, side effects, interactions, nursing implications, mechanism of action, half life, administration, and more. Lamotrigine side effects some people who take lamotrigine may experience adverse reactions or side effects. Find patient medical information for lamotrigine oral on webmd including its uses, side effects and safety, interactions, pictures, warnings and user ratings. Everything you need to know about lamictal side effects and adverse reactions.
Concerns exist that use during pregnancy or breastfeeding may result in harm. Pdf hair loss as a side effect of lamotrigine treatment. There is a single report of breathing problems in a 16 day old baby whose mother was taking 850 mgday of lamotrigine. Our lamictal side effects drug center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication. More about lamictal lamotrigine side effects during pregnancy or breastfeeding dosage information drug images drug interactions. For approximately 65 million people in the world with epilepsy, antiepileptic drugs aeds are the mainstay of treatment. Pdf behavioral and cognitive effects of lamotrigine. What lamotrigine tablets are and what they are used for. The incidence of these rashes, which have included stevensjohnson syndrome, is approximately 0. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.