Lamictal

Generic Name: Lamotrigine

US Brand Name: Lamictal

Other Brand/Trade Names: Lamotrigine is marketed under many trade names around the world, including: Apo-Lamotrigine, Elmendos, Lametec.

Uses

Lamotrigine is effective in helping to control partial seizures (convulsions) in adults and children with epilepsy. Lamotrigine is used in adults and children who have generalized seizures due to a special condition named Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Lamotrigine is usually prescribed with other medications that also help to control the convulsions, although sometimes it may be used by itself. Lamotrigine is also used in adults for a mental health condition called bipolar disorder.

Active Ingredients: Lamotrigine

Inactive Ingredients: Calcium carbonate; hydroxypropylcellulose; aluminium magnesium silicate; sodium starch glycollate; povidone; saccharin sodium; magnesium stearate, blackcurrant flavouring.

Dosage and Forms

Lamotrigine comes as tablets.

Do not take the medication in larger amounts or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. For best effects, take this medication at evenly spaced times throughout the day and night. This will ensure a constant level of drug in your body. A medium dose for an adult who takes no other medications and has no other diseases is 150–250 mg taken twice daily.

Overdose symptoms may include: blurred vision, problems with coordination, increased seizures, feeling light-headed, or fainting.

Contraindications and Precautions

Lamotrigine is contraindicated in patients who have demonstrated hypersensitivity to the drug or its ingredients.

In adults enrolled in studies utilizing the current Lamotrigine dosing recommendations the incidence of serious skin rashes is approximately 1 in 500 in epilepsy patients. Approximately half of these cases have been reported as SJS. The risk of serious skin rashes is higher in children than in adults.

Side Effects

The most commonly noted side effects are dizziness, somnolence, headache, double vision, blurred vision, and nausea, vomiting and rash.

Interactions

Lamotrigine can interact with valproic acid. When Lamotrigine is begun in patients already receiving valproic acid, the blood concentrations of valproic acid can decrease over a 3-week period. This may result in loss of seizure control. There may be a higher incidence of dizziness, double vision and blurred vision in patients receiving carbamazepine; primidone; phenytoin; rifampin together with Lamotrigine.