What are the long term side effects of lamotrigine?

Long-term treatment with lamotrigine can cause osteoporosis and osteopenia, increasing your risk of breaking a bone. Your doctor can arrange for tests to check your bone strength. Regular exercise and a good diet can also help keep your bones strong.


Does lamotrigine affect memory?

A very rare side effect of taking Lamotrigine could be memory loss. In older patients, mood stabilizers cause memory loss and careful monitoring is required.

How long can you take lamotrigine for?

If you have epilepsy, it's likely that once your condition is under control you'll still need to take lamotrigine for many years. If you have bipolar disorder, it's likely that you'll take lamotrigine for at least 6 months, but possibly much longer.


Is lamotrigine a high risk medication?

Lamotrigine (Lamictal) has been associated with a rare, but serious and life-threatening adverse reaction called hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), which can lead to multi-organ failure resulting in hospitalization or death, particularly if diagnosis and treatment are delayed.

Can you take lamotrigine for life?

Are There Any Risks For Taking Lamotrigine For Long Periods Of Time? To date, there are no known problems associated with long term use of lamotrigine. It is a safe and effective medication when used as directed.


Lamotrigine - Mechanism, side effects, drug interactions & uses



Is it hard to get off lamotrigine?

After your last dose of Lamictal, you typically have to spend about 14 days completely clean of the drug to finish detoxing. During those 14 days, you will experience most, if not all, withdrawal symptoms. The first days of the withdrawal are the hardest.

Is lamotrigine hard to get off of?

A Word From Verywell

While not observed in clinical trials, some people may experience withdrawal symptoms when stopping Lamictal. Your experience may vary and may be influenced by various factors, including how long you've taken the medication. Talk to your doctor before changing your dose or stopping your medication.

Why is lamotrigine being recalled?

The cross-contamination occurred with Enalpril Maleate, a drug used for hypertension and congestive heart failure. Small children exposed to the contaminated lamotrigine tablets could experience serious complications.


What organs does lamotrigine affect?

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.

What vitamins should not be taken with lamotrigine?

Interactions with Lamotrigine
  • Ginkgo Biloba.
  • Kava Kava.
  • Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid)
  • Vitamin D.
  • Vitamin H (Biotin)


What lamotrigine does to the brain?

Lamotrigine, acts through several molecular targets and overcomes the major limitation of other conventional antidepressants by stabilizing mood from “below baseline” thereby preventing switches to mania or episode acceleration, thus being effective for bipolar I disorder.


What happens to your body when you stop taking lamotrigine?

Stopping lamotrigine without first talking to a prescriber can lead to uncontrolled seizures, or new or worsening mental health problems.

Is 100 mg of lamotrigine a lot?

Adults taking valproic acid (Depakote®)—At first, 25 mg of lamotrigine once every other day for 2 weeks, then 25 mg once a day for 2 weeks. After this, your doctor may gradually increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg a day.

Does lamotrigine affect thinking?

It is reported that lamotrigine has no adverse effect on cognitive function in patients with epilepsy.


Is lamotrigine hard on the liver?

Lamotrigine is a widely used antiseizure medication that is a rare but well known cause of idiosyncratic liver injury, that can be severe and even fatal.

Can lamotrigine affect behavior?

Abstract. Lamotrigine is a new antiepileptic drug that may possess unique cognitive and behavioral characteristics. Although lamotrigine can produce neurobehavioral toxicity, it is generally well tolerated.

What foods to avoid with lamotrigine?

Stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food. It might help to take your lamotrigine after a meal or snack.


What happens if you take lamotrigine and are not bipolar?

You are still susceptible to side effects if you take Lamictal and do not have bipolar disorder or a seizure disorder. These side effects may include a serious rash and suicidal thoughts. Lamictal may cause an overdose or interact with other medications you take.

Does lamotrigine have a black box warning?

Lamotrigine (Lamictal) is an antiepileptic drug indicated for the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder. Lamictal has a black box warning for causing cases of life-threatening serious rashes, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and/or rash-related death.

What can replace lamotrigine?

Lamotrigine doesn't work for everyone. Lithium, Depakote, Tegretol, Seroquel, and Keppra are some lamotrigine alternatives.
...
The following are some of the most common alternatives to lamotrigine.
  • Lithium. Lithium is a long-standing, well-studied mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder. ...
  • Depakote. ...
  • Tegretol. ...
  • Seroquel. ...
  • Keppra.


What not to do on lamotrigine?

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.

What drug can replace Lamictal?

  • Lamotrigine.
  • Seroquel.
  • Abilify.
  • Topiramate.
  • Lithium.
  • Lurasidone.


Is lamotrigine worth taking?

Lamotrigine has an average rating of 7.7 out of 10 from a total of 1,597 ratings on Drugs.com. 72% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 16% reported a negative experience.


Can you go cold turkey on Lamictal?

Lamictal should not be discontinued abruptly, particularly in those with seizure disorders. Taper slowly over at least 2 weeks unless rapid discontinuation is warranted because of safety concerns.

Can Lamictal cause anger?

The two cases would suggest that LTG may cause anger so severe as to be accompanied with murderous impulse when administered to patients with mood disorders. Physicians should be cognizant of this possible, albeit infrequent, adverse effect even in use of LTG for mood disorders.