Lamotrigine is used alone or together with other medicines to help control certain types of seizures (eg, partial seizures, tonic-clonic seizures, or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome) in the treatment of epilepsy. This medicine cannot cure epilepsy and will only work to control seizures for as long as you continue to take it. It can also be used in the treatment of bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness) in adults.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor to help your condition as much as possible and to decrease the chance of unwanted effects. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Lamotrigine may be taken with or without food or on a full or empty stomach. However, if your doctor tells you to take the medicine a certain way, take it exactly as directed.

If you are taking the chewable dispersible tablets, they may be swallowed whole, chewed, and swallowed, or dispersed in a small amount of liquid and swallowed. If the tablets are chewed, they should be followed with a small amount of water or diluted fruit juice to aid in swallowing. To break up these tablets, add them in enough water or diluted fruit juice to cover the tablets (about a teaspoonful). Wait until the tablets are completely dispersed (about 1 minute), then swirl the solution and swallow it immediately.

If you are taking the disintegrating tablet, make sure your hands are dry before you handle the tablet. Do not open the blister pack that contains the tablet until you are ready to take it. Remove the tablet from the blister pack by peeling back the foil, then taking the tablet out. Do not push the tablet through the foil. Place the tablet into your tongue and move it around in your mouth. It should melt quickly. After the tablet has melted, swallow or take a sip of water.

Swallow the extended-release tablets whole. Do not break, crush, or chew it.

Use only the brand of this medicine that your doctor prescribed. Different brands and dosage forms may not work the same way.

This medicine can be used with other seizure medicines. Keep using all of your seizure medicines unless your doctor tells you to stop.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Blurred vision

changes in vision

clumsiness or unsteadiness

double vision

poor coordination

skin rash

Less common

Anxiety

chest pain

confusion

continuous, uncontrolled back and forth or rolling eye movements

depression

increase in seizures

infection

irritability

Rare

Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin

chills

cough

dark urine

diarrhea

fever

general feeling of discomfort or illness

headache

itching

joint pain

loss of appetite

memory loss

muscle cramps, pain, or weakness

nausea

red or irritated eyes

runny nose

shivering

small red or purple spots on the skin

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth

swelling of the face, mouth, hands, or feet

swollen lymph nodes

trouble sleeping

trouble with breathing

unusual bleeding or bruising

unusual tiredness or weakness

vomiting

yellow eyes or skin

Incidence not known

Back, leg, or stomach pains

bleeding gums

bloating

blood in the urine

bloody, black or tarry stools

bluish lips or skin

bruising

constipation

cough

coughing or vomiting blood

difficulty with breathing

difficulty with swallowing

fainting

fast heartbeat

general body swelling

general feeling of tiredness or weakness

heartburn

high fever

hoarseness

lightheadedness

loss of balance control

lower back or side pain

mask-like face

muscle spasms

nosebleeds

not breathing

pain or burning in the throat

painful or difficult urination

pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back

pale skin

persistent bleeding or oozing from puncture sites, mouth, or nose

rapid, shallow breathing

redness, soreness, or itching skin

shuffling walk

slowed movement

slurred speech

sores, welting, or blisters

stiffness of the arms and legs

swollen or painful glands

tic-like (jerky) movements

tightness in the chest

unexplained bleeding or bruising

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

Clumsiness or unsteadiness (severe)

continuous, uncontrolled back and forth or rolling eye movements (severe)

dizziness (severe)

drowsiness (severe)

dryness of the mouth (severe)

headache (severe)

increased heart rate

loss of consciousness

slurred speech (severe)

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Dizziness

drowsiness

Less common

Indigestion

loss of strength

menstrual pain

pain

trembling or shaking

trouble with sleeping

unusual weight loss

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

It is important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits, especially during the first few months of your treatment with lamotrigine. This will allow your doctor to change your dose, if necessary, and will help reduce any unwanted effects.

It is important to tell your doctor if you become pregnant while using this medicine. Your doctor may want you to join a pregnancy registry for patients taking a seizure medicine.

You should not start or stop using birth control pills or other female hormonal products while you are using this medicine until you have consulted your doctor.

Tell your doctor right away if you have unusual changes in your menstrual cycle such as breakthrough bleeding while taking lamotrigine and birth control pills or other female hormonal products.

This medicine may increase the effects of alcohol and other central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicines that make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for allergies or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine, prescription pain medicine or narcotics, medicine for seizures or barbiturates, muscle relaxants, or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine.

Lamotrigine may cause blurred vision, double vision, clumsiness, unsteadiness, dizziness, or drowsiness. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. If these reactions are especially bothersome, check with your doctor.

Skin rash may be a sign of a serious unwanted effect. Check with your doctor immediately if you or your child develop a rash, fever, flu-like symptoms, or swollen glands, or if your seizures becomes worse.

This medicine may cause hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, a rare and life-threatening disorder wherein the body makes too many activated immune cells (macrophages and lymphocytes). Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.

Lamotrigine may cause serious allergic reactions affecting multiple body organs (eg, liver or kidney). Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have the following symptoms: fever, dark urine, headache, hives, muscle pain or stiffness, stomach pain, unusual tiredness, or yellow eyes or skin.

This medicine may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies or to become more depressed. If you, your child, or your caregiver notice any of these side effects, tell your doctor or your child's doctor right away.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child start to have a stiff neck, confusion, drowsiness, fever, chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, rash, or sensitivity to light. These could be symptoms of a rare and serious condition called aseptic meningitis.

Check with your doctor right away if blurred vision, difficulty with reading, or any other change in vision occurs during or after treatment. Your doctor may want your eyes be checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

Do not stop taking lamotrigine without first checking with your doctor. Stopping this medicine suddenly may cause your seizures to return or to occur more often. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are taking before stopping completely.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.