LAMICTAL XR

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
LAMICTAL XR may cause a serious skin rash that may cause you to be hospitalized or to stop LAMICTAL XR; it may rarely cause death (See Boxed Warning). CONTINUED BELOW

Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide.

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For People Who Currently Take LAMICTAL (lamotrigine)

LAMICTAL XR is a prescription medicine used together with other medicines to treat partial onset seizures in people 13 years or older. LAMICTAL XR is not approved for use in children less than 13 years of age.

If you and your doctor decide that LAMICTAL XR is right for you, click here to sign up to receive a savings card good for up to $40 off on up to 12 prescriptions for LAMICTAL XR. Subject to eligibility.

Download a guide to bring to your doctor to help start your discussion about LAMICTAL XR.

Switching is simple

If you currently take LAMICTAL (lamotrigine), you can easily switch to LAMICTAL XR. You take the same amount of medicine each day that you have been taking. But now, you will only take your medicine once a day as instructed by your doctor.

It is important to take LAMICTAL XR exactly as instructed by your doctor

  • Take LAMICTAL XR exactly as prescribed.
  • Your healthcare provider may change your dose. Do not change your dose without talking to your healthcare provider.
  • Do not stop taking LAMICTAL XR without talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping LAMICTAL XR suddenly may cause serious problems. For example, if you have epilepsy and you stop taking LAMICTAL XR suddenly, you may get seizures that do not stop. Talk with your healthcare provider about how to stop LAMICTAL XR slowly.
  • If you miss a dose of LAMICTAL XR, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, just skip the missed dose. Take the next dose at your regular time. Do not take two doses at the same time.
  • You may not feel the full effect of LAMICTAL XR for several weeks.
  • If you have epilepsy, tell your healthcare provider if your seizures get worse or if you have any new types of seizures.
  • LAMICTAL XR can be taken with or without food.
  • Do not chew, crush, or divide LAMICTAL XR.
  • Swallow LAMICTAL XR tablets whole.
  • If you have trouble swallowing LAMICTAL XR, tell your healthcare provider because there may be another form of LAMICTAL you can take.
  • If you receive LAMICTAL XR in a blisterpack, examine the blisterpack before use. Do not use if blisters are torn, broken, or missing.

What should I avoid while taking LAMICTAL XR?

  • Do not drive a car or operate complex, hazardous machinery until you know how LAMICTAL XR affects you.

Be sure your prescription is filled with LAMICTAL XR

Patients prescribed LAMICTAL have sometimes been given the wrong medicine because many medicines have names similar to LAMICTAL, so always check that you receive LAMICTAL XR.

Taking the wrong medication can cause serious health problems. When your healthcare provider gives you a prescription for LAMICTAL XR:

  • Make sure you can read it clearly.
  • Talk to your pharmacist to check that you are given the correct medicine.
  • Each time you fill your prescription, check the tablets you receive against the pictures of the tablets below.

The pictures below show the distinct wording, colors, and shapes of the tablets that help to identify the right strength of LAMICTAL XR. Immediately call your pharmacist if you receive a LAMICTAL XR tablet that does not look like one of the tablets shown below, as you may have received the wrong medication.

LAMICTAL XR is available in 25-mg, 50-mg, 100-mg, and 200-mg tablets.

25 mg 50 mg 100 mg 200 mg

You also can sign up to get more information and future savings on LAMICTAL XR. Sign up now!

Important Safety Information About LAMICTAL XR (lamotrigine) Extended-Release Tablets

LAMICTAL XR may cause a serious skin rash that may cause you to be hospitalized or to stop LAMICTAL XR; it may rarely cause death. There is no way to tell if a mild rash will develop into a more serious reaction. These serious skin reactions are more likely to happen when you begin taking LAMICTAL XR, within the first 2 to 8 weeks of treatment. But it can happen in people who have taken LAMICTAL XR for any period of time. Children between 2 to 16 years of age have a higher chance of getting this serious skin reaction while taking lamotrigine. LAMICTAL XR is not approved for use in children less than 13 years old.

The risk of getting a rash is higher if you: take LAMICTAL XR while taking valproate [Depakene* (valproic acid) or Depakote* (divalproex sodium)], take a higher starting dose of LAMICTAL XR than your healthcare provider prescribed, or increase your dose of LAMICTAL XR faster than prescribed.

LAMICTAL XR can also cause other types of allergic reactions or serious problems which may affect organs and other parts of your body like the liver or blood cells. You may or may not have a rash with these types of reactions.

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following: a skin rash, hives, fever, swollen lymph glands, painful sores in the mouth or around your eyes, swelling of your lips or tongue, yellowing of your skin or eyes, unusual bruising or bleeding, severe fatigue or weakness, severe muscle pain or frequent infections. These symptoms may be the first signs of a serious reaction. A healthcare provider should examine you to decide if you should continue taking LAMICTAL XR.

You should not take LAMICTAL XR if you have had an allergic reaction to lamotrigine or to any of the inactive ingredients in LAMICTAL XR.

Like other antiepileptic drugs, LAMICTAL XR may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500. Call a healthcare provider right away if you have worsening depression, any unusual changes in mood or behavior, or thoughts or actions about suicide or self-harm, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you
(see Medication Guide).

Patients prescribed LAMICTAL have sometimes been given the wrong medicine because many medicines have names similar to LAMICTAL, so always check that you receive LAMICTAL XR.
Taking the wrong medication can cause serious health problems. When your healthcare provider gives you a prescription for LAMICTAL XR:

Common side effects include dizziness, tremor, double vision, nausea, vomiting, trouble with balance and coordination, and anxiety. Other common side effects that have been reported with another form of LAMICTAL include headache, sleepiness, blurred vision, runny nose, and rash. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. Also, tell your healthcare provider if you have any changes in your menstrual pattern, such as breakthrough bleeding, while taking LAMICTAL XR and birth control pills. These are not all the possible side effects of LAMICTAL XR. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

*Depakene and Depakote are registered trademarks of Abbott Laboratories.

Next: For People Who Have Not Taken LAMICTAL (lamotrigine)