Lamotrigine (patient information)

IMPORTANT WARNING

Lamotrigine may cause serious rashes that may need to be treated in a hospital or cause permanent disability or death. Tell your doctor if you are taking valproic acid (Depakene) or divalproex (Depakote), because taking these medications with lamotrigine may increase your risk of developing a serious rash.

Your doctor will start you on low dose of lamotrigine and gradually increase your dose, not more than once every 1-2 weeks. You may be more likely to develop a serious rash if you take a higher starting dose or increase your dose faster than your doctor tells you that you should. Be sure to take lamotrigine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Serious rashes usually develop during the first 2-8 weeks of treatment with lamotrigine, but can develop at any time during treatment. If you develop any of the following symptoms while you are taking lamotrigine, call your doctor immediately: rash; fever; swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs; hoarseness; difficulty breathing or swallowing; upset stomach; extreme tiredness; unusual bruising or bleeding; lack of energy; loss of appetite; pain in the upper right part of the stomach; yellowing of the skin or eyes; flu-like symptoms; pale skin; headache; dizziness; fast heartbeat; weakness;; shortness of breath; sore throat, fever, chills, and other signs of infection;dark red or cola-colored urine; muscle weakness or aching; or painful sores in your mouth or around your eyes.

Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking lamotrigine or of giving lamotrigine to your child. Children who take lamotrigine are more likely to develop serious rashes than adults who take the medication.

Why this medication is prescribed

Lamotrigine is used to treat certain types of seizures in patients who have epilepsy or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (a disorder that causes seizures and often causes developmental delays). Lamotrigine is also used to increase the time between episodes of depression, mania (frenzied or abnormally excited mood), and other abnormal moods in patients with bipolar I disorder (manic depressive disorder; a disease that causes episodes of depression, episodes of mania, and other abnormal moods). Lamotrigine has not been shown to be effective when people experience the actual episodes of depression or mania, so other medications must be used to help people recover from these episodes. Lamotrigine is in a class of medications called anticonvulsants. It works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain.

How this medication should be used

Lamotrigine comes as a regular tablet and a chewable dispersible (can be chewed or dissolved in liquid) tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once or twice a day. It is sometimes taken once every other day at the beginning of treatment. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.

There are other medications that have names similar to the brand name for lamotrigine. You should be sure that you receive lamotrigine and not one of the similar medications each time you fill your prescription. Be sure that the prescription your doctor gives you is clear and easy to read. Talk to your pharmacist to be sure that you are given lamotrigine. After you receive your medication, compare the tablets to the pictures in the manufacturer's patient information sheet. If you think you were given the wrong medication, talk to your pharmacist. Do not take any medication unless you are certain it is the medication that your doctor prescribed.

Swallow the regular tablets whole; do not split, chew, or crush them.

If you are taking the chewable dispersible tablets, you may swallow them whole, chew them, or dissolve them in liquid. If you chew the tablets, drink a small amount of water or diluted fruit juice afterward to wash down the medication. To dissolve the tablets in liquid, place 1 teaspoon of water or diluted fruit juice in a glass or on a spoon. Place the tablet in the liquid and wait 1 minute to allow it to dissolve. Then mix the liquid and drink all of it immediately.

If you were taking another medication to treat seizures and are switching to lamotrigine, your doctor will gradually decrease your dose of the other medication and gradually increase your dose of lamotrigine. Follow these directions carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about how much of each medication you should take.

Lamotrigine may control your condition, but it will not cure it. Continue to take lamotrigine even if you feel well. Do not stop taking lamotrigine without talking to your doctor. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually. If you suddenly stop taking lamotrigine, you may experience seizures. If you do stop taking lamotrigine for any reason, do not start taking it again without talking to your doctor.

Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer's patient information sheet. Read it carefully before you begin taking lamotrigine and each time you refill your prescription. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Other uses for this medicine Return to top This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Special precautions

Before taking lamotrigine:

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to lamotrigine, or any other medications. *If you will be taking the chewable dispersible tablets, tell your doctor if you are allergic to sulfa medications or saccharin.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall); other medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), phenytoin (Dilantin), and primidone (Mysoline); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); and trimethoprim (Proloprim) . Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• tell your doctor if you are taking female hormonal medications such as hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, rings, injections, implants, or intrauterine devices), or hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Talk to your doctor before you start or stop taking any of these medications while you are taking lamotrigine. If you are taking a female hormonal medication, tell your doctor if you have any bleeding between expected menstrual periods.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart, kidney, or liver disease or a blood disorder.
• 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 having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking lamotrigine.
• you should know that this medication may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
• remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this medication.

Special dietary instructions

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

What to do if you forget a dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Side effects

Minor side effects

Lamotrigine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• loss of balance or coordination
• double vision
• blurred vision
• crossed eyes
• difficulty thinking or concentrating
• difficulty speaking
• drowsiness
• dizziness
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• constipation
• heartburn
• problems with ears or teeth
• irritability
• nervousness
• mood changes
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• stomach, back, or joint pain
• runny nose
• cough
• missed or painful menstrual periods
• swelling, itching, or irritation of the vagina
• dry mouth

Severe side effects

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms or those described in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:

• seizures that happen more often, last longer, or are different than the seizures you had in the past
• chest pain
• swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• depression

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Storage conditions needed for this medication

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature, away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

In case of emergency/overdose

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.

Symptoms of overdose may include:

• loss of balance or coordination
• crossed eyes
• increased seizures
• loss of consciousness
• coma

Other information

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your response to lamotrigine.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Brand names

• Lamictal®