Lamotrigine: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

What Drug Lamotrigine?

What is lamotrigine for?

Lamotrigine is a drug to prevent and control seizures, which is used with or without other medicines.

Lamotrigine belongs to the class of anticonvulsant drugs (antiepileptic or anticonvulsant). This drug works to restore the balance of certain chemical levels in the brain.

The drug lamotrigine can also be used to help prevent changes mood extremes due to bipolar disorder in adults.

Lamotrigine can also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

How to use lamotrigine?

Lamotrigine is consumed by mouth. Swallow the tablet whole because it will taste bitter when chewed.

Don't mash it or split it in half. Ask your doctor whether this medicine should be taken after or before meals.

Taking too much lamotrigine at the start of treatment can increase your risk of a severe and life-threatening skin rash. Therefore, stick to the dose that has been given by the doctor.

Do not stop medication without consulting a doctor. Some conditions can get worse if the medicine is stopped suddenly.

Your dose may also need to be gradually decreased. If you have stopped using this drug, do not start lamotrigine again without consulting your doctor.

You may need frequent blood tests to help ensure that the correct dose of medication is given.

Tell your doctor if the condition does not change or gets worse. If you switch to lamotrigine from another seizure medication, carefully follow your doctor's instructions for the timing and dose of your medication.

How is lamotrigine stored?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Do not store in the bathroom and do not freeze in the refrigerator.

Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so.

Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Lamotrigine dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dose of lamotrigine for adults?

The dosage of the drug depends on your health condition and the body's response to it.

It is very important to follow the proper dosing instructions from your doctor. The dose should be increased slowly, not immediately given in high amounts at the start of treatment.

The process of increasing your dosage can take several weeks to several months until you get the best results from this medication.

For adults 12 years of age and over, the drug is given once a day for two weeks as much as 25 mg.

After that, the dose will increase to 50 mg per day for 2 weeks. Meanwhile, the maintenance dose for the condition is given 100 to 200 mg once a day in halves.

For adults using lamotrigine in a series of antiepileptic drugs containing valproic acid:

• Weeks 1 and 2: 12.5 mg daily
• Weeks 3 and 4: 25 mg daily

The maintenance dose for this combination is 100 to 400 mg per day (divided into 1 or 2 doses).

To achieve this maintenance dose, the dose can be increased from 25 to 50 mg / day every 1 to 2 weeks.

Meanwhile, for bipolar disorder in adults, the dosage of lamortigine is based on other drugs that are used simultaneously.

Lamotrigine extended release only used in adults and children at least 13 years of age.

What is the dosage of lamotrigine for children?

In children, the dosing depends on age and body weight.

For children 2 to 12 years of age, the dose is set only with whole tablets. While children are 2 to 6 years of age, the treatment dose may be above the recommended range.

Drug immediate release it is usually used in children as young as 2 years of age as a combination seizure medication. However, this one drug should not be used as a single drug in children or adolescents under 16 years of age.

The doctor will adjust the dosage according to your age, body weight, and underlying medical conditions.

In what dosage is lamotrigine available?

Lamotrigine is available in the form of drinking tablets with doses of 2 mg, 5 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, 200 mg, 250 mg, and 300 mg.

Lamotrigine side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to lamotrigine?

Lamotrigine can cause a variety of mild side effects such as:

• Headache and dizziness
• Blurred or double vision
• Tremors or loss of coordination
• Dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea
• Fever, sore throat, runny nose
• Drowsiness and tired feeling
• Back pain
• Sleep problems (insomnia)

Lamotrigine can also cause severe or even fatal skin rashes. The side effects of the rash are especially prone to occur in children and adults who take too high a dose when they are just starting treatment.

Serious skin rashes can also occur if you take lamotrigine with valproic acid (Depakene) or divalproex (Depakote).

If you have to stop using lamotrigine because of a serious skin rash, you may not be able to use it again later.

Tell your doctor right away if you experience any of the following serious side effects:

• A rash on the skin regardless of the condition
• Fever, swollen glands, body aches, flu symptoms, headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light
• Easy bruising or bleeding, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness
• Pain in the upper abdomen, loss of appetite, dark urine, yellow patches on the skin or eyes (jaundice)
• Chest pain, unusual heart rhythm, shortness of breath
• Dizziness, nausea and vomiting, swelling, rapid weight gain, less or no urination than usual
• pale skin, light feelings on the head, difficulty breathing, fast heart rate, difficulty concentrating
• The frequency of seizures is getting more frequent or bipolar disorder is getting worse
• Changes in the day's mood or behavior and the desire to commit suicide or self-harm

In addition, you also need to go to the nearest emergency room if you experience signs of a severe allergic reaction or anaphylactic shock such as:

• Difficulty breathing
• Rash on skin
• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Unconscious

Not everyone experiences the above side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Lamotrigine Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using lamotrigine?

Before using lamotrigine, there are several things that need to be done, namely:

• Tell your doctor if you have an allergy to this drug, other drugs, or other ingredients in a prescribed product
• Tell doctors and pharmacists about prescription drugs, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products that are being consumed
• Tell the doctor if you are using female hormone drugs such as hormonal contraception (birth control pills, patches, rings, injections, implants, or IUDs), or hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
• Tell your doctor before you start or stop medication while you are using lamotrigine
• If you are using female hormone medication, tell your doctor if you experience bleeding between menstrual cycles
• Tell your doctor if you have or have had autoimmune disease, blood disorders, kidney disease, or liver disease
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, and / or breastfeeding
• If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking lamotrigine.
• It is important to know this drug can cause drowsiness so avoid driving alone

In addition, it is also important to know that a person's mental health can change without realizing it when taking lamotrigine.

A person may also have a tendency to attempt suicide while taking lamotrigine for the treatment of epilepsy, mental illness, or other conditions.

From some evidence it is known that suicidal thoughts and behavior started from the first week of treatment.

Therefore, it is important for the immediate family to contact the doctor immediately if these behavioral and mental changes begin to appear.

Is lamotrigine safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication.

This medicine is considered a pregnancy risk category C (may be a risk to pregnant women) according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = Not at risk
• B = No risk in several studies
• C = May be risky
• D = There is positive evidence of risk
• X = Contraindicated
• N = Unknown

Animal studies suggest a risk of adverse effects on the fetus.

Therefore, drugs should only be given if the benefits provided far outweigh the side effects.

Do not start or stop taking this medication during pregnancy without your doctor's advice. Seizures during pregnancy can harm both mother and baby.

Meanwhile, in breastfeeding mothers, lamotrigine can pass through breast milk and can harm the baby. Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Lamotrigine Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with lamotrigine?

Drug interactions can change how medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects.

Some medications can affect the blood levels of other medicines you take. As a result, side effects may increase or lamotrigine may be less effective.

Prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal products can all have negative interactions for the body.

This article does not include all drug interactions that can occur. Keep a list of the products you use (including prescription / nonprescription medicines and herbal products) and tell your doctor and pharmacist.

Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's knowledge.

As for drugs that can interact negatively with lamotrigine, namely:

• Carbamazepine
• Ezogabine
• Orlistat
• Valproic Acid
• Desogestrel
• Dienogest
• Drospirenone
• Escitalopram
• Estradiol
• Estradiol Cypionate
• Estradiol Valerate
• Ethinyl Estradiol
• Ethynodiol Diacetate
• Etonogestrel
• Ginkgo
• Levonorgestrel
• Lopinavir
• Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
• Mestranol
• Methsuximide
• Norelgestromin
• Norethindrone
• Norgestimate
• Norgestrel
• Oxcarbazepine
• Phenobarbital
• Primidone
• Rifampin
• Risperidone
• Ritonavir
• Rufinamide
• Sertraline

Can food or alcohol interact with lamotrigine?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur.

Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause bad interactions to occur.

Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions can interact with lamotrigine?

There are certain health problems that can affect the use of this drug. Tell your doctor if you have other health problems, specifically:

• Blood or bone marrow problems.
• Depression - can make this condition worse.
• Heart disease.
• Kidney illness.
• Liver disease - higher blood levels of lamotrigine may occur, increasing the chance of unwanted effects.
• Thalassemia - lamotrigine can cause your body to stop producing or produce fewer red blood cells.

Talk to your doctor first about your condition before deciding to take the drug lamotrigine.

Lamotrigine overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (119) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Don't forget to bring all medications that are currently being taken to help the doctor analyze the problem.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Do not double your dose in one drink.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.