What is Lamictal?
Lamictal (lamotrigine) is a prescription drug used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder.
Looking for an effective way to control your epilepsy or bipolar disorder symptoms? Talk to your provider about Lamictal to see if it is right for you.
What are the common side effects of Lamictal?
While adverse reactions to Lamictal are uncommon, some patients who take the drug may experience mild side effects, including skin rash, difficulty with balance, drowsiness, headache, double vision, blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting.
This is not a complete list of side effects. If you are concerned about additional side effects, please contact your provider directly.
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Lamictal is a brand-name prescription drug prescribed as a treatment for epilepsy and bipolar disorder.
The FDA has approved Lamictal to help treat these conditions by balancing activity in the brain. It is commonly supplied as an oral tablet or chewable tablet. These medicines contain the drug lamotrigine, also available in generic form.
Health care providers prescribe Lamictal to control certain types of seizures in people with epilepsy.
Seizures are uncontrollable electrical disruptions in the brain that occur suddenly. A seizure can alter your behavior, movements, and awareness. Suffering two or more unprovoked seizures at least 24 hours apart is known as epilepsy. Seizure types vary drastically in their range of symptoms and severity. On average, a seizure lasts from 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
While Lamictal cannot cure epilepsy, it can help patients manage seizure symptoms caused by the disorder.
In addition to its use in controlling seizures, health care providers prescribe Lamictal as a treatment for bipolar symptoms in adults.
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that causes periods of mood swings that range from depression to manic highs. Lamictal specifically helps manage periods of mania, characterized as agitated, hyperactive, or irritated mood episodes. Mania is commonly followed by depressive episodes that can cause intense sadness, isolation, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts. Lamictal slows brain activity that can aggravate these manic episodes, helping patients managing bipolar disorder maintain mental balance.
Lamictal is classified as an anticonvulsant medication. It reduces synaptic responses in the brain, which can reduce seizures. Brain cells work faster than usual during seizures. Lamictal slows the action of these cells, essentially stopping them from working as fast as a seizure. By slowing brain activity, Lamictal can halt seizure symptoms before they begin.
Lamictal’s action on brain activity is also used as a treatment for manic episodes of bipolar disorder. Lamictal slows brain activity that can aggravate these periods of mania, helping patients managing bipolar disorder maintain mental balance.
It is important to note that Lamictal is not a cure for epilepsy or bipolar disorder. Both of these disorders are ongoing conditions that require a lifetime of management and treatment. When prescribed to patients managing epilepsy, Lamictal is a medication used to prevent seizures. It cannot be used to treat a seizure that is already happening.
Lamictal has been shown to cause some side effects. Talk to your health care provider if these mild reactions do not go away within a few days.
Common side effects reported from Lamictal use include:
In some cases, Lamictal use may result in serious side effects. Call your doctor immediately if these symptoms persist or you experience more severe side effects. Some rare but serious side effects of Lamictal include: This is not a complete list of adverse reactions caused by Lamictal. Call your doctor immediately if you experience any difficulty breathing, increased seizure frequency, unusual bleeding or bruising, hives, or swelling while taking this medication.
As with all prescription medications, be sure to inform the prescribing doctor about any medical conditions you have been previously diagnosed with and any medication/ supplements you are currently taking before taking Lamictal. Lamictal can interact with other forms of medication, causing potentially serious side effects. In addition, let your doctor know if you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant before starting treatment with this medication.
Lamictal’s dosage is typically increased throughout treatment to prevent side effects. The exact dosage and method of administration will depend on the patient’s age, body weight, and the severity of the condition requiring treatment.
Take the medication exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not discontinue or increase your dosage of Lamictal without consulting with your provider first. If you begin to experience adverse side effects while taking this medication, like those listed above, inform your provider immediately.
Because Lamictal is administered gradually, it may take some time before you notice its effects. Do not increase the dose unless directed by your doctor. Similarly, do not discontinue use of Lamictal, even if you feel well. Suddenly stopping Lamictal treatment can lead to serious side effects, including withdrawal seizures.
You should store your medication in a closed container at room temperature, away from extreme heat, extreme cold, moisture, and direct light, and keep it out of the reach of children.
Lamictal is currently only available via prescription. This means a licensed health care provider must authorize the use of this drug.
Providers on Sesame can write a prescription or refill an existing one. You can arrange same-day pickup at a nearby pharmacy. Book an online consultation with a licensed provider on Sesame today to determine whether Lamictal is right for you.
Note that all prescriptions are at the discretion of your health care provider. Providers on Sesame cannot prescribe controlled substances.
Good news! If deemed clinically appropriate, providers on Sesame can write a prescription for Lamictal to be picked up near you—often within the same day! Simply talk to a clinician and get your online doctor prescription or refill ordered right away for fast and convenient pickup from a pharmacy of your choice.
Note that all prescriptions are at the discretion of your healthcare provider.
