About lamotrigine
Antiseizure medicine; mood stabilizer
Used for
- Treats certain types of epilepsy, alone or with other medicines.
- Helps prevent mood episodes in bipolar I disorder; not for immediate mania.
Usual adult dose
Varies by condition and other medicines; epilepsy often starts at 25–50 mg daily and increases gradually. Bipolar maintenance commonly targets 200 mg daily.
Usual dose in children
For epilepsy, dosing is based on weight, age, and other medicines; it is increased gradually under specialist supervision.
Common side effects
- Rash
- Dizziness or headache
- Nausea
- Sleepiness or blurred vision
Important warnings
- Seek urgent care for rash, blistering, facial swelling, or mouth sores; rare reactions can be life-threatening.
- Starting too high or increasing too quickly raises the risk of serious rash.
- Do not stop suddenly without medical guidance; seizures may worsen.
- Dosing changes with valproate, enzyme-inducing medicines, and estrogen-containing contraceptives.
Pregnancy
Do not stop suddenly during pregnancy. Lamotrigine levels can change; treatment needs clinical monitoring and individualized review.
Breastfeeding
Lamotrigine passes into breast milk. Monitor the infant for rash, sleepiness, poor feeding, or breathing problems.
Interactions
- Valproate raises lamotrigine levels and rash risk.
- Carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, and primidone lower lamotrigine levels.
- Estrogen-containing contraceptives can lower levels; stopping them may raise levels.
- Some HIV medicines and rifampin can lower lamotrigine levels.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.