Manufacturer: Glaxo SmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Salt Composition : Lamotrigine(50mg)
Lamictal XR 50mg Tablet can be used alone or in combination with other medicines. It may be taken with or without food. Your doctor will decide the correct dose for you. This may increase gradually until your condition is stable. This medicine may take several weeks to work but it is important to take it regularly to get the maximum benefit. Do not stop taking it, even if you feel fine unless your doctor advises you to. You may have more seizures, or your bipolar disorder may get worse.
The most common side effects of this medicine include skin rashes, headache, nausea, and vomiting, difficulty sleeping, and dizziness. Most side effects wear off, but if they bother you or do not go away, tell your doctor. Inform your doctor immediately if you notice a rash or peeling of the skin. There may be ways of preventing or reducing these effects. Long-term treatment can cause weakness in your bones (osteoporosis), increasing your risk of breaking a bone.
Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems, depression, or suicidal thoughts. Also let your healthcare professional know about all other medications you are using as some may affect, or be affected by, this medicine, including contraceptive pills. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding as the dose may need to be adjusted. You should avoid driving or anything that requires concentration if this medicine makes you drowsy or dizzy. You may need frequent blood tests to check how you are responding to this medicine.
It is a triazine, and research has shown that lamotrigine selectively binds and inhibits voltage-gated sodium channels, stabilizing presynaptic neuronal membranes and inhibiting presynaptic glutamate and aspartate release.
Pharmacokinetics. The pharmacokinetics of lamotrigine follow first-order kinetics, with a half-life of 29 hours and volume of distribution of 1.36 L/kg. Lamotrigine is rapidly and completely absorbed after oral administration. Its absolute bioavailability is 98% and its plasma Cmax occurs from 1.4 to 4.8 hours.
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common side effects of Lamictal
Skin rash
Headache
Nausea
Vomiting
Dryness in mouth
Insomnia (difficulty in sleeping)
Sleepiness
Dizziness
Back pain
Abdominal pain
Blurred vision
Double vision
Impaired coordination
Nasal congestion (stuffy nose)
Infection
Hypersensitivity to lamotrigine or its ingredients is the primary contraindication for the administration of lamotrigine. Lamotrigine is present in breast milk and is detectable in the blood of breastfed infants. Symptoms of lamotrigine in infants include poor feeding, drowsiness, rash, and apnea.
Lamictal XR 50mg Tablet may be unsafe to use during pregnancy. Although there are limited studies in humans, animal studies have shown harmful effects on the developing baby. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you. Please consult your doctor.
Lamictal XR 50mg Tablet may cause excessive drowsiness with alcohol.
Lamictal XR 50mg Tablet is probably safe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug does not represent any significant risk to the baby.
Monitor the baby for rash, sleepiness or poor sucking. Also, get the platelet count and liver function test done periodically.
Lamotrigine can be used to treat the following partial seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, bipolar I disorder maintenance and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Off-label uses include treating acute bipolar depression, fibromyalgia, schizophrenia, and unipolar depression.
Dofetilide can have a severe interaction with lamotrigine, and the combination is strongly discouraged. Other drugs with potential serious interactions include valproic acid, rifampin, estrogen-containing contraceptives, and estrogen replacement therapy medications, as well as certain barbiturates.
Do not chew, crush or break it. Lamictal XR 50mg Tablet may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
Store below 30°C
If you miss a dose of Lamictal XR 50mg Tablet, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.
Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.
Take your medication regularly as directed by your doctor as missing doses can trigger seizures.
Do not change the brand of your medicine and make sure that you have sufficient amount of medicine present with you.
Some healthy tips to prevent seizures:
Practice yoga every day.
Get enough sleep at nighttime.
Limit the use of screen time such as mobile/laptop.
Take your medication on time.
It may cause headaches. Drink plenty of water and take a suitable pain killer. Inform your doctor if it does not go away.
It may cause skin rash. Inform your doctor immediately if you notice a rash, itching and peeling of skin.
Talk to your doctor if you notice sudden mood changes or develop suicidal thoughts.
Do not stop taking the medication suddenly without talking to your doctor as it may increase the frequency of seizure.
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Lamictal XR 50mg Tablet may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
Q. I started Lamictal XR 50mg Tablet and developed a rash. The doctor stopped Lamictal XR 50mg Tablet immediately and prescribed another medicine. Why?
There have been reports where patients developed serious rashes within 8 weeks of starting Lamictal XR 50mg Tablet and were hospitalized. Sometimes these rashes turn into severe skin infections and may endanger the patient’s life. Therefore, it is advised that if a patient develops rashes after starting Lamictal XR 50mg Tablet, it should be stopped and should not be restarted. Use of Lamictal XR 50mg Tablet is stopped even if the rashes are mild and non-serious. It is because of this that your doctor changed the medicine.
Q. How long does it take Lamictal XR 50mg Tablet to work?
Though it varies from person to person, your symptoms may take about 6-8 weeks to improve.
Q. What can be the consequences of taking a higher than the recommended dose of Lamictal XR 50mg Tablet?
You may experience quick and uncontrollable movements of your eye, clumsiness, and lack of coordination. High doses of Lamictal XR 50mg Tablet may cause problems with your balance, changes in heartbeat rhythm, loss of consciousness, fits (convulsions) or coma. Even if there are no signs of discomfort, seek immediate medical attention of a doctor or nearby hospital.
Q. Can Lamictal XR 50mg Tablet affect pregnancy?
Studies on the human population do not show any effects of Lamictal XR 50mg Tablet on pregnant women or her fetus. However, it is advisable that you inform your doctor immediately if you become pregnant or are planning to get pregnant while taking Lamictal XR 50mg Tablet. In case therapy with Lamictal XR 50mg Tablet is considered during pregnancy, your doctor may prescribe the lowest effective dose.
