Lamictal Patient Tips

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on April 7, 2025.

1. How it works

• Lamictal is used either alone or in combination with other anticonvulsants to treat epilepsy. It may also be used to stabilize mood in people with bipolar I disorder. Lamictal is a brand name for lamotrigine.
• Experts are not sure exactly how Lamictal (lamotrigine) works but some have suggested that it inhibits voltage-sensitive sodium channels, stabilizing nerve membranes and moderating the release of excitatory amino acids such as glutamate and aspartate.
• Lamictal belongs to the drug class called triazine anticonvulsants.

2. Upsides

• Used in combination with other anticonvulsants for the treatment of partial-onset seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and generalized seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
• May be used as the sole therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in adults aged 16 years and older who have previously been treated with carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, primidone, or valproate.
• May be used as maintenance treatment and to stabilize mood and delay the occurrence of depression, mania, hypomania, or mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder. Lamictal is not recommended for the treatment of acute manic or mixed episodes of bipolar disorder.
• Available as immediate-release and extended-release tablets.
• Immediate-release preparations are available as chewable/dispersible tablets and orally disintegrating tablets.
• Blood levels of Lamictal do not require monitoring.
• Structurally unrelated to other anticonvulsants.
• May be administered with or without food.
• May be administered as a single daily dose or in two divided doses.
• Lamictal is available as a generic under the name lamotrigine.

3. Downsides

If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side effects you are more likely to experience include:

• Dizziness, coordination problems, sleepiness, headache, double or blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, and rash are the most common side effects reported with Lamictal. The risk of side effects increases at higher dosages and with concomitant carbamazepine.
• Rarely, life-threatening skin rashes require hospitalization and discontinuation of Lamictal treatment. The risk is higher in younger children and possibly with higher Lamictal dosages or co-administration with valproate. Most, but not all, cases occur within two to eight weeks of treatment initiation. Lamictal may also cause a benign, non-problematic rash, and distinguishing between different rashes caused by Lamictal may be difficult. Seek urgent medical advice at the first sign of a rash with Lamictal, unless the rash is not drug-related. Discontinuation of Lamictal may be needed.
• Rarely, potentially fatal hypersensitivity reactions and blood disorders may also occur. Seek medical advice with any sign of fever or swollen lymph nodes.
• As with other anti-epileptics, Lamictal may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior; monitor for worsening depression or mood changes.
• May interact with several drugs including other anticonvulsants (such as carbamazepine and phenytoin), estrogen-containing oral contraceptives, and some HIV antivirals.
• Rarely, has been associated with sudden unexplained death.
• Caution may be needed when using in people with renal or hepatic impairment and some other medical conditions.
• Extended-release tablets are not recommended for children or adolescents under the age of 13 years.
• Children weighing less than 30kg have a higher weight-normalized Lamictal clearance than those weighing greater than 30kg.
• Multi-organ failure has been reported rarely with Lamictal, usually in association with other serious medical events such as status epilepticus, sepsis, or hantavirus infection. Other serious side effects include blood dyscrasias, such as neutropenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia.
• 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. If Lamictal is discontinued temporarily for longer than 5 half-lives (the half-life of lamotrigine is 25 hours (multiple dosing) to 33 hours (single dosing), then therapy should be resumed using the recommended initial dosing regimen.
• The initial and maintenance dosage of Lamictal needs to be individualized depending on what other medications a person is taking. See the product information for the recommended dosing schedule. The dosage of Lamictal will also need to be reduced by 25% in those with moderate to severe liver disease without ascites and by 50% in those with ascites. A reduced maintenance dosage may be appropriate in those with kidney disease, although the manufacturers make no specific recommendation. The lower end of the dosing range should be used for seniors.
• Rarely, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (a life-threatening immune system syndrome) or potentially fatal hypersensitivity reactions leading to organ failure may also occur. Seek medical advice with any sign of rash, fever, or swollen lymph nodes. The use of Lamictal also increases the risk of aseptic meningitis.
• As with other anti-epileptics, Lamictal may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior; monitor for worsening depression or mood changes.
• May interact with several drugs including other anticonvulsants (such as carbamazepine and phenytoin), estrogen-containing oral contraceptives, and some HIV antivirals.
• Rarely, has been associated with sudden unexplained death.
• Lamictal has a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS); the aim is to inform patients about serious risks (such as suicidality) associated with lamotrigine. The REMS consists of a medication guide.
• Lamictal should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. There is a possible association between Lamictal exposure during the first trimester of pregnancy and a cleft palate or cleft lip. In animal studies, Lamictal has decreased fetal folate concentrations which are associated with teratogenesis in animals and humans. Lamictal may interact with some hormonal contraceptives and a higher dosage of Lamictal may be needed, depending on what other medications are also being taken. Lamictal is not recommended during breastfeeding.

Note: In general, seniors or children, people with certain medical conditions (such as liver or kidney problems, heart disease, diabetes, seizures) or people who take other medications are more at risk of developing a wider range of side effects. View complete list of side effects

4. Bottom Line

Lamictal is used to decrease the frequency and severity of seizures in some types of epilepsy and also to stabilize mood in bipolar I disorder. It is an oral tablet that is taken once or twice a day. Dizziness, coordination problems, sleepiness, headache, double or blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting are the most common side effects. Rarely, lamotrigine may cause a potentially fatal rash requiring immediate drug discontinuation.

5. Tips

• May be taken with or without food. If you develop a stomach upset after taking Lamictal, taking it with food may help.
• Always read the medication guide given with Lamictal. It explains the risks associated with Lamictal.
• The extended-release form (Lamictal XR) should only be used in adults and children aged 13 years or older. The immediate-release form (Lamictal, Lamictal ODT) can be used in children aged 2 years or older as long as it is used in combination with other seizure medications. When used alone, this form can only be used in adults and teenagers over the age of 16.
• Lamictal chewable dispersible tablets may be swallowed whole, chewed, or dispersed in water or dilute fruit juice. Lamictal orally disintegrating tablets should be placed on the tongue and moved around the mouth. Do not attempt to administer partial quantities of the dispersed tablets.
• Swallow extended-release tablets whole; do not crush or chew.
• Take exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not stop taking lamotrigine suddenly without your doctor's advice because withdrawal seizures may occur. It may take several weeks before lamotrigine starts to have an effect. The dosage will need tapering off on discontinuation as directed by your doctor.
• May cause drowsiness and affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. Avoid alcohol, because alcohol may make these symptoms worse.
• The risk of rash may be decreased by lower starting dosages and a slower upward titration of doses as prescribed by your doctor. If possible (unless safety concerns dictate otherwise), Lamictal should be discontinued in a step-wise fashion (suggested decrease of 50% per week) over at least two weeks.
• Talk to your doctor if you develop any side effects, such as a low mood, a worsening of seizure control, enlarged liver or lymph nodes, unusual bleeding, yellowing of the skin and eyes, or visual disturbances.
• Seek urgent medical advice if you develop a severe rash or reaction after taking Lamictal. Symptoms may include red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin (with or without fever); red or irritated eyes; or sores in your mouth, throat, nose, or eyes. The risk of a severe skin reaction is greater in children aged 2 to 17 years; when taken in conjunction with valproate, with higher dosages of Lamictal, or if the dosage of Lamictal is increased too fast.
• The extended-release form, Lamictal XR, should only be used in adults and children aged 13 years or older. The immediate-release form (Lamictal, Lamictal ODT) can be used in children aged 2 years or older as long as it is used in combination with other seizure medications. When used alone, this form can only be used in adults and teenagers over the age of 16.
• May interfere with some hormonal contraceptives. Let your doctor know if you are taking birth control.
• May cause a false-positive result on a drug test for phencyclidine (PCP). More specific analytical testing should be undertaken if this occurs.
• Visually inspect your Lamictal tablets to verify that they are indeed Lamictal because this drug has been associated with several dispensing errors, particularly with drugs that sound the same, such as Lamisil (an antifungal), Lomotil (an anti-diarrheal medication), and labetalol ( a heart medication). Always check with your pharmacist if you have any cause for concern.
• Use adequate contraception to ensure you do not become pregnant while taking lamotrigine. If you inadvertently become pregnant while taking lamotrigine then enroll on the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) pregnancy registry at aedpregnancyregistry.org/. Lamictal is not recommended during breastfeeding.

6. Response and effectiveness

• Lamictal is rapidly absorbed and peak levels are reached within 1.7 to 4.8 hours of administration. The effects of Lamictal last for over 24 hours and once-daily dosing is often prescribed. However, some doctors prefer to split the dose to decrease the risk of side effects such as drowsiness.

7. Interactions

Medicines that interact with Lamictal may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with Lamictal. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does. Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed.

Common medications that may interact with Lamictal include:

• estrogen-containing oral contraceptives
• anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, topiramate, or valproic acid
• antipsychotics, such as aripiprazole or clozapine
• buprenorphine
• cannabis
• duloxetine
• folate inhibitors
• folic acid
• herbals such as gingko or kava
• HIV medications such as atazanavir, indinavir and ritonavir
• lithium
• medications that cause drowsiness, such as benzodiazepines, sedating antihistamines, and sleeping pills
• metformin
• opioid analgesics such as fentanyl, oxycodone, and morphine
• rifampin
• tramadol
• trazodone.

Alcohol may worsen the side effects of Lamictal such as drowsiness, dizziness, and liver toxicity.

Note that this list is not all-inclusive and includes only common medications that may interact with Lamictal. You should refer to the prescribing information for Lamictal for a complete list of interactions.

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Frequently asked questions

• Is it better to take lamotrigine at night?
• What should I do if I develop a rash while taking lamotrigine?
• If you are taking lamotrigine how long does it take to get out of your system?

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Lamictal only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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