Lamictal
Lamictal is a medicine used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder.
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will decide your dose. For adults and children over 13, the usual dose is 100-400 mg per day. For children aged 2-12, the dose depends on weight, typically 1-15 mg per kg per day, up to a maximum of 200 mg per day. Not recommended for children under 2 years old.
Method
Take Lamictal once or twice a day as prescribed by your doctor, with or without food. You can swallow the tablet whole with water, chew it, or dissolve it in water. Always take the full dose, never a partial tablet or part of the solution.
Never take more Lamictal than your doctor prescribes. For adults and children over 13, the maximum daily dose is 400 mg. For children aged 2-12, the maximum daily dose is 200 mg.
Possible Side Effects
- •Headache
- •Skin rash
- •Feeling aggressive or irritable
- •Feeling tired or sleepy
- •Dizziness
- •Shaking or trembling
- •Trouble sleeping
- •Feeling agitated
- •Diarrhea
- •Dry mouth
- •Nausea or vomiting
- •Back, joint, or other pain
- •Clumsiness or poor coordination
- •Double or blurred vision
- •Unusual hair loss
- •Skin rash or sunburn after sun exposure (photosensitivity)
- •Target-shaped skin rash with red spots or patches
- •Severe, life-threatening skin reactions, including blistering and peeling skin
- •Symptoms like fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, stiff neck, and sensitivity to light (may be meningitis)
- •Rapid, uncontrollable eye movements
- •Itchy, watery eyes and crusty eyelids
- •Serious allergic reaction affecting multiple body parts (DRESS syndrome)
- •High fever
- •Swelling of the face or glands in the neck, armpits, or groin
- •Liver problems, shown by changes in blood tests or liver failure
- •Severe blood clotting disorder with unexpected bleeding or bruising
- •Serious immune system reaction (HLH)
- •Changes in blood tests, such as low red or white blood cells or platelets
- •Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't real)
- •Confusion
- •Feeling unsteady when moving
- •Uncontrolled body movements, tics, or spasms (like jerking or stiffness)
- •Seizures may become more frequent (in people with epilepsy)
- •Parkinson's disease symptoms may worsen
- •Lupus-like reactions (e.g., joint or back pain, fever, feeling generally unwell)
- •Bone changes, such as thinning bones or fractures
- •Kidney inflammation, possibly with eye inflammation
- •Nightmares
- •Weakened immune system due to low levels of immune proteins
- •Red lumps or patches on the skin
Important Warnings
- Do not take Lamictal if you are allergic to lamotrigine or any other ingredients in the medicine.
- Watch out for serious skin rashes, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, which can be life-threatening. Contact your doctor immediately if you get a rash.
- Very rare but serious immune reactions (HLH) have been reported. Seek immediate medical help if you experience fever, rash, or nervous system problems like shaking or confusion.
- Medicines for epilepsy, including Lamictal, can sometimes cause suicidal thoughts. If you have such thoughts, contact a doctor immediately.
- For some types of epilepsy, seizures may worsen or become more frequent. If this happens, contact your doctor right away.
Show 3 more warnings
- Lamictal should not be given to children under 18 for bipolar disorder.
- Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all other medicines you are taking, including herbal remedies and over-the-counter drugs, as they can affect Lamictal.
- Lamictal can cause dizziness and double vision. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how the medicine affects you.