As with any medication, withdrawal symptoms will depend on you and your circumstances. Your withdrawal can be affected by how long you've been on Lamictal, your dosage, whether you stopped suddenly or tapered off, and other individual factors. Be sure to talk to your doctor before stopping or re-starting Lamictal. Suddenly stopping Lamictal can cause new or worse problems regarding your mental health. As with many medications, it is recommended that people who are discontinuing the drug do so gradually, rather than stopping it suddenly.
Report any odd or disturbing symptoms to your doctor as you're tapering off your dose. If you're taking other medications along with Lamictal, the situation may be even more complicated. This is because Lamictal interacts with other drugs such as certain other anti-epileptics and oral contraceptives. In a few cases, you may need to stop Lamictal suddenly. This is because the drug can cause a potentially life-threatening rash and other dangerous reactions. If one of these rare side effects occurs, you'll need to discontinue taking the drug immediately.
Dealing with racing thoughts? Always feeling tired? Our guide offers strategies to help you or your loved one live better with bipolar disorder. Sign up for our newsletter and get it free. Is there a lamotrigine withdrawal syndrome? Acta Neurol Scand. Safety and tolerability of lamotrigine for bipolar disorder.
Drug Saf. Spotlight on lamotrigine in bipolar disorder. CNS Drugs. Psychother Psychosom ; An update on antiepileptic drugs and suicide: are there definitive answers yet? Epilepsy Curr. Risk of recurrence in women with bipolar disorder during pregnancy: prospective study of mood stabilizer discontinuation.
Am J Psychiatry. Goodman A. Addiction: definition and implications. Br J Addict. Motl is currently certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Psychiatry, and Board eligible in Neurology and licensed in the state of Arizona. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in biology and minors in chemistry and philosophy.
View Bio. Diane is an avid supporter and researcher of natural mental health strategies. Diane received her medical writing and science communication certification through Stanford University and has published over 3 million words on the topics of holistic health, addiction, recovery, and alternative medicine.
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What is Lamictal lamotrigine Used For Lamictal is used for epileptic seizure prevention and control, and as a mood stabilizer to treat the manic and depressive episodes of adult bipolar disorder. Lamictal Alternative Names and Slang lamotrigine Lamictal is the brand or trade name for the generic drug lamotrigine.
Will my dose go up or down? Once you find a dose that suits you, it'll usually stay the same. How long will I take it for? Important Do not stop lamotrigine without speaking to your doctor first. What if I forget to take it? If you take lamotrigine and you forget a dose: once a day — take the missed dose as soon as you remember.
If it's less than 12 hours until your next dose is due, leave out the missed dose and take your next dose as normal. If it's less than 8 hours before the next dose is due, it's better to leave out the missed dose and take your next dose as normal. If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. What if I take too much? Taking too much lamotrigine can cause serious side effects. You take too much lamotrigine and: have rapid, uncontrollable eye movements feel clumsy or lose your balance feel a change in the rhythm of your heartbeat have had a fit or seizure pass out.
Skin rashes It's common to get a skin rash with lamotrigine. Stevens-Johnson syndrome is more common in: children people who developed a rash with a different epilepsy medicine in the past people who are allergic to an antibiotic called trimethoprim people also taking a medicine called sodium valproate To help prevent the chance of you getting a rash that could be confused with Stevens-Johnson syndrome, it's best to not start any new medicines, foods or products during the first 3 months of treatment with lamotrigine.
Other common side effects These common side effects may happen in more than 1 in people. Keep taking the medicine, but talk to your doctor if these side effects bother you or do not go away: headaches feeling drowsy, sleepy or dizzy aggression, or feeling irritable or agitated shaking or tremors difficulty sleeping diarrhoea feeling or being sick nausea or vomiting Other serious side effects Very few people taking lamotrigine have serious problems.
Tell a doctor straight away if you have a serious side effect, including: thoughts of harming or killing yourself — a small number of people taking lamotrigine for bipolar disorder have had suicidal thoughts, and this can happen after only a few weeks of treatment worsening seizures if you take lamotrigine for epilepsy unexpected bruising or bleeding, a high temperature or sore throat — these could be warning signs of a blood disorder a stiff neck, headaches, feeling or being sick, a high temperature and extreme sensitivity to bright light — these could be signs of meningitis Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to lamotrigine.
Information: You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme. Visit Yellow Card for further information. What to do about: headaches — make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. Talk to your doctor if your headaches last longer than a week or are severe. Do not drive, ride a bike or operate machinery until you feel more alert. If they do not go within a week or two, your doctor may reduce your dose or increase it more slowly.
If that does not work, speak to your doctor. You may need to switch to a different medicine. These symptoms can be a sign that the dose is too high for you. It may help to change your dose or take your medicine at a different time of day. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee.
Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor. Speak to a doctor if symptoms get worse or last longer than a week. It might help to take your lamotrigine after a meal or snack. If you're being sick, take small, frequent sips of water or squash to avoid dehydration.
Lamotrigine and pregnancy There's no firm evidence that lamotrigine is harmful to an unborn baby. It's important for you and your baby to stay well during pregnancy. Lamotrigine and breastfeeding If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, lamotrigine can be taken while you're breastfeeding. Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:.
Check with your pharmacist or doctor if you're taking: other medicines used to treat epilepsy, such as carbamazepine , felbamate, gabapentin , levetiracetam , oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin , pregabalin , primidone, topiramate , valproate or zonisamide aripiprazole, lithium , olanzapine or risperidone used for mental health problems bupropion, a stop smoking medicine rifampicin, an antibiotic usually given to treat tuberculosis TB medicines used to treat HIV hormonal contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy HRT Mixing lamotrigine with herbal remedies and supplements There might be a problem taking some herbal remedies and supplements alongside lamotrigine, especially ones that can cause rashes, sleepiness or shaking and tremors.
Ask your pharmacist for advice. Important: Medicine safety Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. How does lamotrigine work? How long does it take to work? You may still have seizures or feel low during this time. Is it safe to take lamotrigine for a long time? Many people can take lamotrigine safely for several months or years. Your doctor can arrange for tests to check your bone strength. Regular exercise and a good diet can also help keep your bones strong.
How can I come off lamotrigine? Important Do not stop taking lamotrigine without talking to your doctor first. What happens if I want to switch to a different medicine? Does lamotrigine cause weight loss? Lamotrigine does not usually affect weight at all.
Will the side effects wear off? Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription over-the-counter medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements.
You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Lamotrigine pronounced as la moe' tri jeen. Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause? What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication? Brand names. Swallow the tablets and extended-release tablets whole; do not split, chew, or crush them.
Other uses for this medicine. What special precautions should I follow? Before taking lamotrigine, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to lamotrigine, any other medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. 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. If you become pregnant while taking lamotrigine, call your doctor.
If you breast-feed during your treatment with lamotrigine, your baby may receive some lamotrigine in breast milk. Watch your baby closely for unusual sleepiness, interrupted breathing, or poor sucking. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. A small number of adults and children 5 years of age and older about 1 in people who took anticonvulsants such as lamotrigine to treat various conditions during clinical studies became suicidal during their treatment.
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