Lamictal(lamotrigine) is used as a mood stabilizer to treat people withbipolar disorder, as well as as an anticonvulsant for people withseizure disorders.
Lamotrigine is a prescription-only medication that must be taken only under the medical supervision of a doctor.
How does Lamictal work?
Lamotrigine works by inhibiting cell pathways in the brain called sodium channels, which reduces the emission of chemicals called glutamate and aspartate, two of the most important excitatory neurotransmitters in the brain.
Lamotrigine has a broader spectrum of action than other sodium channel antiepilepticdrugssuch asphenytoin. It is effective in the management of themajor depressionphase ofbipolar disorder—apparently due to its sigma receptor activity—other sodium channel-blocking antiepileptic drugs are not.
Furthermore, lamotrigine typically has minimal adverse effects compared to other anticonvulsants that block sodium channels.
What is Lamictal used for?
- Bipolar disorder:Bipolar disorder is amental healthcondition that causes fluctuations in mood, energy, and function characterized by extreme emotional states called episodes, which occur over days to weeks.
- Lamictal is licensed for the continuous treatment of bipolar I and bipolar II disorders. Lamotrigine has been shown to effectively prevent or lower the risk of recurrentdepressive episodesin bipolar disorder.
- However, the drug appears to be ineffective in the treatment of rapid-cycling, acutemaniaor acutedepression.
- Schizophrenia:Schizophreniais a seriousmental illnesscharacterized bydelusions,hallucinations, disordered speech, difficulty thinking, and a lack of desire.Schizophreniacan significantly impair personal, familial, social, educational, and vocational functioning.
- As a stand-alone treatment for schizophrenia, Lamictal is ineffective. However, according to many articles, lamotrigine may be prescribed along withclozapineas an enhancement treatment for patients with partial or nonresponding schizophrenia
- Antipsychotics other than clozapine, such asolanzapine,risperidone,haloperidol, zuclopenthixol and others, have no measurable effect on lamotrigine.
- Epilepsy:Epilepsyis characterized by recurrentseizuresoccasionally followed by impaired cognition and loss of bowel or bladder control.
- For initial generalized tonic-clonicseizures(包括,拉莫三嗪是一线治疗s simple partial, complex partial, and secondarily generalized seizures, such as focal-onset tonic-clonic seizures).
- It is also used as an alternative or adjuvant medicine to treat generalized seizures, such as blank seizures, myoclonic seizures, and atonic seizures.
- Lennox-Gastaut syndrome:Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a type ofepilepsycharacterized by a variety of seizures—tonic (bodystiffness), atonic (brief loss of muscle tone and awareness), atypical absence (gazing episodes), and myoclonic (unexpected muscle jerks).
- Lamotrigine is one of the FDA-approved drugs known to lower the intensity of drop episodes and reduce the frequency of LGS seizures.
- Lamotrigine is often combined with valproate, but it raises the risk of lamotrigine-inducedrashand demands a lower dose because of medication interactions.
How much Lamictal should be taken?
Before taking Lamictal, make sure to review the Medication Guide and, if applicable, the Patient Information Leaflet that comes inside the box. Your doctor or pharmacist can address other concerns. Dosages of lamotrigine are follows:
- Oral pill (100, 150, 200, and 25 mg; blue, green, orange)
- Oral pill, disintegrating (100, 200, 25, and 50 mg; blue, green, orange)
- Oral pill, dispersible (2, 25, and 5 mg)
- Oral pill, extended release (100, 200, 25, 250, 300, and 50 mg; blue, green, orange)
Doses vary by age, weight, overall health, and current medication use. It may take a few weeks or months to find the right dose of the drug for maximum benefits. It is recommended to take it at the same time every day with a 24-hour gap in between doses.
What are the side effects of Lamictal?
Lamictal has a range of side effects, including:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Double vision
- Blurred vision
- Nauseaandvomiting
- Diarrhea
- Indigestion
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
- Problems with balance and coordination
- Fatigue
- Uneasiness
- Sleeplessness
It is unclear how safe Lamictal use is if you arepregnantorbreastfeeding. Studies have not shown any pediatric-specific issues that would restrict the use of lamotrigine pills in children ages 2 and older with certaintypes of seizures. However, the safety and efficacy of the drug in children under age 2 are yet to be determined.
If you experience adverse side effects while using Lamictal, consult your doctor.
Health News
Summary
Lamictal (lamotrigine) is used as a mood stabilizer to treat people with bipolar disorder, as well as as an anticonvulsant for people with epilepsy.
Multimedia: Slideshows, Images & Quizzes
-
What's Schizophrenia? Symptoms, Types, Causes, Treatment
What is the definition of schizophrenia? What is paranoid schizophrenia? Read about schizophrenia types and learn about...
-
What Is Epilepsy? Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
Learn about epilepsy symptoms and treatment for this seizure condition. Discover the definition of epilepsy, how epilepsy is...
-
What Is Bipolar Disorder? Symptoms, Manic Episodes, Testing
Bipolar disorder (formerly "manic depression") causes extreme mood shifts and manic episodes. Learn about bipolar 1, bipolar 2,...
-
Bipolar Disorder (Mania) Quiz
Who is at risk for developing bipolar disorder? Are you? Take this Bipolar Disorder Quiz to learn more about bipolar disorder, if...
-
Epilepsy & Seizures Quiz: What Causes Seizures?
Do you know the difference between seizures and epilepsy? What are the types of seizures? Take the Epilepsy & Seizures Quiz to...
-
Schizophrenia Quiz: What is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder. Learn more about the challenges of mental illness with the Schizophrenia Quiz.
Related Disease Conditions
-
Bipolar Disorder vs. Schizophrenia
Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are mental illnesses that share some risk factors and treatments. Symptoms of bipolar disorder include mood changes and manic and depressive episodes. Symptoms of schizophrenia include unusual behavior, delusions, and hallucinations. Check out the center below for more medical references on mental illnesses, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.
-
What Are the Best Treatments for Schizophrenia? Can It Be Treated Naturally?
Learn what medical treatments and natural treatments can ease your schizophrenia symptoms and help you manage this mental health condition.
-
What Is the Best Medication for Bipolar Disorder?
Mood stabilizers are typically considered the best medication for bipolar disorder. Learn about other bipolar medications and treatment options.
-
What Kind of Drugs Are Mood Stabilizers?
Mood stabilizers are a type of psychiatric drug used to help treat bipolar disorder and other conditions that cause extreme mood swings.
-
What Is the Best Treatment for Bipolar Disorder?
While bipolar disorder cannot be cured, treatment aims to stabilize moods and untangle patients from the dramatic ups and downs of mania and depression through the use of medications and therapy.
Treatment & Diagnosis
Medications & Supplements
Prevention & Wellness
Health SolutionsFrom Our Sponsors
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit theFDA MedWatchwebsite or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Medscape. Lamotrigine (Rx). https://reference.medscape.com/drug/lamictal-lamotrigine-343012
Betchel NT, Fariba KA, Saadabadi A. Lamotrigine. [Updated 2021 Dec 9]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470442/