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|Lamictal

LAMOTRIGINE (Systemic)

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S.—

• Lamictal

In Canada—

• Lamictal

Another commonly used name is LTG .

Category

• Anticonvulsant
• Antimanic

Description

Lamotrigine (la-MOE-tri-jeen) is used to help control some types of seizures in the treatment of epilepsy. This medicine cannot cure epilepsy and will only work to control seizures for as long as you continue to take it. It can also be used in the treatment of bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness) in adults older than 18 years of age.

Lamotrigine is available only with your doctor"s prescription, in the following dosage form:

• Oral
• Chewable/Dispersible Tablets (U.S.)
• Tablets (U.S. and Canada)

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For lamotrigine, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to lamotrigine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy—Lamotrigine has not been studied in pregnant women. However, if you might become pregnant while taking lamotrigine, your doctor may want you to take folic acid supplements. Studies in animals have shown that lamotrigine, even when given to the mother in doses smaller than the largest human dose, may cause some offspring to die. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding—Lamotrigine passes into breast milk. However, it is not known whether this medicine causes problems in nursing babies. Mothers who are taking lamotrigine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children—Skin rashes may be more likely to occur in children younger than 16 years of age than in adults. Some of these rashes may be serious and life-threatening. It is especially important that you discuss with the child"s doctor the good that this medicine may do as well as the risks of using it. Lamotrigine is not indicated for bipolar disorder in children under 18 years of age.

Older adults—Lamotrigine is removed from the body more slowly in elderly people than in younger people. Higher blood levels of the medicine may occur, which may increase the chance of unwanted effects. Your doctor may give you a different lamotrigine dose than a younger person would receive.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking lamotrigine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Carbamazepine (e.g., Tegretol) or
• Phenobarbital (e.g., Luminal) or
• Phenytoin (e.g., Dilantin) or
• Primidone (e.g., Mysoline) or
• Valproic acid (e.g., Depakote)—These medicines may increase or decrease the blood levels of lamotrigine, which may increase the chance of unwanted effects; your doctor may need to change the dose of either these medicines or lamotrigine

• Oral contraceptives (e.g., birth control pills) or
• Other female hormone therapy—Your doctor may need to adjust your dose of lamotrigine. Also, using birth control pills with lamotrigine may make the birth control pills not work as well.

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of lamotrigine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Heart disease—It is not clear if patients who have problems with heart rhythms will have increased problems while taking lamotrigine

• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease—Higher blood levels of lamotrigine may occur, which may increase the chance of unwanted effects; your doctor may need to change your dose

• Thalassemia—Lamotrigine may cause your body to stop making or to make fewer red blood cells

Proper Use of This Medicine

Take lamotrigine only as directed by your doctor to help your condition as much as possible and to decrease the chance of unwanted effects. Do not take more or less of this medicine, and do not take it more or less often than your doctor ordered.

Lamotrigine may be taken with or without food or on a full or empty stomach. However, if your doctor tells you to take the medicine a certain way, take it exactly as directed.

If you are taking the chewable/dispersible tablets : These tablets may be swallowed whole, chewed and swallowed, or dispersed in a small amount of liquid and swallowed. If the tablets are chewed, they should be followed with a small amount of water or diluted fruit juice to aid in swallowing. If tablets are to be dispersed: Place tablets in enough water or diluted fruit juice to cover the tablets (about a teaspoonful), wait until the tablets are completely dispersed (about 1 minute), then swirl the solution and swallow it immediately.

Dosing—The dose of lamotrigine will be different for different patients, and depends on what other medicines you are taking. Follow your doctor"s orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of lamotrigine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of tablets that you take depends on the strength of the medicine.

• For oral dosage forms (tablets):
  • For treatment of bipolar disorder:
    • Adults not taking valproic acid (e.g., Depakote) and not taking carbamazepine (e.g., Tegretol), phenobarbital (e.g., Luminal), phenytoin (e.g., Dilantin), and/or primidone (e.g., Mysoline)—At first, 25 milligrams (mg) of lamotrigine once a day for two weeks, then a total of 50 each day for two weeks. After this, your doctor may increase the dose gradually if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 200 mg a day.
    • Adults taking valproic acid (e.g., Depakote)—At first, 25 mg of lamotrigine once every other day for two weeks, then 25 mg once every day for two weeks. After this, your doctor may increase the dose gradually if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg a day.
    • Adults not taking valproic acid (e.g., Depakote) but taking carbamazepine (e.g., Tegretol), phenobarbital (e.g., Luminal), phenytoin (e.g., Dilantin), and/or primidone (e.g., Mysoline)—At first, 50 milligrams (mg) of lamotrigine once a day for two weeks, then a total of 100 mg divided into two smaller doses each day for two weeks. After this, your doctor may increase the dose gradually if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 400 mg a day.
    • Adults who are discontinuing valproic acid (e.g., Depakote) or discontinuing carbamazepine (e.g., Tegretol), phenobarbital (e.g., Luminal), phenytoin (e.g., Dilantin), and/or primidone (e.g., Mysoline)—Dose will be determined by your doctor.
    • Children under 18 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor
  • For treatment of epilepsy:
    • Adults not taking valproic acid (e.g., Depakote) but taking carbamazepine (e.g., Tegretol), phenobarbital (e.g., Luminal), phenytoin (e.g., Dilantin), and/or primidone (e.g., Mysoline)—At first, 50 milligrams (mg) of lamotrigine once a day for two weeks, then a total of 100 mg divided into two smaller doses each day for two weeks. After this, your doctor may increase the dose gradually if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 500 mg a day.
    • Adults taking valproic acid (e.g., Depakote) and also taking carbamazepine (e.g., Tegretol), phenobarbital (e.g., Luminal), phenytoin (e.g., Dilantin), and/or primidone (e.g., Mysoline)—At first, 25 mg of lamotrigine once every other day for two weeks, then 25 mg once every day for two weeks. After this, your doctor may increase the dose gradually if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 400 mg a day.
    • Children 2 to 12 years of age:
      • Children not taking valproic acid (e.g., Depakote) but taking carbamazepine (e.g., Tegretol), phenobarbital (e.g., Luminal), phenytoin (e.g., Dilantin), and/or primidone (e.g., Mysoline): At first, 0.6 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) (0.27 mg per pound) of body weight of lamotrigine once a day for two weeks, then 1.2 mg/kg (0.54 mg per pound) of body weight divided into two smaller doses each day for two weeks. After this, your doctor may increase the dose gradually if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 400 mg a day.
      • Children taking valproic acid (e.g., Depakote) and also taking carbamazepine (e.g., Tegretol), phenobarbital (e.g., Luminal), phenytoin (e.g., Dilantin), and/or primidone (e.g., Mysoline): At first, 0.15 mg per kg (0.07 mg per pound) of body weight of lamotrigine given in one dose or two smaller doses each day for two weeks, then 0.3 mg/kg (0.136 mg per pound) of body weight given in one dose or two smaller doses each day for two weeks. After this, your doctor may increase the dose gradually if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 200 mg a day.
    • Children older than 12 years of age usually receive the adult dose.

Missed dose—If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage—To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Precautions While Using This Medicine

It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits , especially during the first few months of your treatment with lamotrigine. This will allow your doctor to change your dose, if necessary, and will help reduce any unwanted effects.

You should not start or stop using birth control pills or other female hormonal products while you are taking this medicine until you have consulted your doctor.

Tell your doctor right away if you experience unusual changes in your menstrual cycle such as break-through bleeding while taking lamotrigine and birth control pills or other female hormonal products.

This medicine may increase the effects of alcohol and other central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicines that make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies, or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine; prescription pain medicine or narcotics; barbiturates; medicine for seizures; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine .

Lamotrigine may cause blurred vision, double vision, clumsiness, unsteadiness, dizziness, or drowsiness. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert, well-coordinated, or able to see well . If these reactions are especially bothersome, check with your doctor.

Skin rash may be a sign of a serious unwanted effect. Check with your doctor immediately if you develop a rash, fever, flu-like symptoms, or swollen glands, or if your seizures increase .

If suicidal thoughts or behavior occur, especially if you are taking this medicine to treat bipolar disorder, contact your doctor right away.

Do not stop taking lamotrigine without first checking with your doctor . Stopping this medicine suddenly may cause your seizures to return or to occur more often. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are taking before stopping completely.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Developed: 05/23/1996
Revised: 09/23/2005

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