Questions About LAMICTAL XR
Here are answers to some questions you may have about LAMICTAL XR. .
- What is LAMICTAL XR?
- Who should not take LAMICTAL XR?
- Can a pregnant woman take LAMICTAL XR?
- Can a woman breastfeed while taking LAMICTAL XR?
- How long does it take to reach the right dose of LAMICTAL XR?
- Why does it take several weeks to determine the right dose of LAMICTAL XR?
- What should I do if I miss a dose of LAMICTAL XR?
- Will LAMICTAL XR affect my ability to drive?
- What if my seizures get worse?
- Can I take other medications while I'm taking LAMICTAL XR?
- What are the most common side effects of LAMICTAL XR?
- Is there a risk of serious rash with LAMICTAL XR?
- How can I know if a mild rash will develop into something more serious?
- Are some people more likely than others to develop a serious rash?
- How is LAMICTAL XR taken?
- Should I keep LAMICTAL XR in the refrigerator?
Q. What is LAMICTAL XR?
A. LAMICTAL XR is a prescription medicine used together with other medicines to treat partial seizures in people 13 years or older. It is not known if LAMICTAL XR is safe or effective in children under the age of 13. Other forms of LAMICTAL can be used in children 2 to 12 years.
Q. Who should not take LAMICTAL XR?
A. 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. See the Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in LAMICTAL XR.
Q. Can a pregnant woman take LAMICTAL XR?
A. All women of childbearing potential should discuss with their doctor their antiseizure medicine regimen and what to do in the event of pregnancy. It is not known if LAMICTAL XR will harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking LAMICTAL XR, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry. You can enroll in this registry by calling 1-888-233-2334. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy.
Q. Can a woman breastfeed while taking LAMICTAL XR?
A. LAMICTAL XR can pass into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you should take LAMICTAL XR or breastfeed. Breastfeeding while taking
LAMICTAL XR is not recommended.
Q. How long does it take to reach the right dose of LAMICTAL XR?
A. It may take several weeks or even months to arrive at the best maintenance dose of LAMICTAL XR. Never take more or less LAMICTAL XR than prescribed.
Q. Why does it take several weeks to determine the right dose of LAMICTAL XR?
A. There are 2 reasons. First, you need to start treatment with a low dose of LAMICTAL XR and slowly increase the dose over a number of weeks because the risk of getting a rash is higher if you take a higher starting dose or increase your dose of LAMICTAL XR faster than prescribed. Second, the right dosage of medication varies from person to person.
Slowly increasing the dose until seizures are controlled will ensure that you are taking the lowest amount of LAMICTAL XR that's effective.
Do not increase the dose or take more frequent doses, unless instructed to by your doctor. It's important to follow instructions exactly regarding how much LAMICTAL XR to take and when to take it. Contact your doctor if you stop taking LAMICTAL XR for any reason. Do not restart without consulting your doctor.
Q. What should I do if I miss a dose of LAMICTAL XR?
A. 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.
Q. Will LAMICTAL XR affect my ability to drive?
A. Use caution before driving a car or operating complex, hazardous machinery until you (or your loved one) know if LAMICTAL XR affects the ability to perform such tasks. Do not drive a car or operate complex, hazardous machinery until you know how LAMICTAL XR affects you. It is important to learn about issues related to driving and seizure control in your state; regulations vary. Be sure to ask your doctor if LAMICTAL XR will affect your (or your loved one's) ability to perform such tasks.
Q. What if my seizures get worse?
A. If seizures get worse, or if you (or your loved one) experience a new type of seizure, tell your epilepsy doctor right away.
Q. Can I take other medications while I'm taking LAMICTAL XR?
A. Both prescription and non-prescription medicines can interact with LAMICTAL XR. So, it's important to check with the doctor and pharmacist before taking any other medicines or herbal remedies such as those sold in drug stores and health food stores.
Do not start or stop taking birth control pills or other female hormonal medicine until you have talked with your healthcare provider. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any changes in your menstrual pattern such as breakthrough bleeding. Stopping these medicines may cause side effects (such as dizziness, lack of coordination, or double vision). Starting these medicines may lessen how well LAMICTAL XR works.
Q. What are the most common side effects of LAMICTAL XR?
A. Common side effects of LAMICTAL XR 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.
Q. Is there a risk of serious rash with LAMICTAL XR?
A. 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.
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:
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.
Q. How can I know if a mild rash will develop into something more serious?
A. 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.
Q. Are some people more likely than others to develop a serious rash?
A. 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.
*Depakene (valproic acid) and Depakote (divalproex sodium) are registered trademarks of Abbott Laboratories.
Q. How is LAMICTAL XR taken?
A. LAMICTAL XR tablets should be taken once daily as instructed by your doctor, with or without food. They should be swallowed whole and not chewed, crushed, or divided.
Q. Should I keep LAMICTAL XR in the refrigerator?
A. No. Store LAMICTAL XR at room temperature and away from heat and light. Always keep LAMICTAL XR out of the reach of children. If for any reason your doctor stops treatment with LAMICTAL XR, do not keep any leftover medicine unless your doctor tells you to. Medication should be thrown away as instructed.