Get Informed: Lamictal
Active Ingredient(s)
Lamotrigine
What does it do?
This product is used in the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder. While it is believed to work at multiple sites in the brain, its mechanism of action is not well understood.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Jul-31 2:46 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Jul-30 9:01 PM
Other Names
- Lamictal
- Lamotrigine
- Lamictal XR
- Lamictal ODT
- Lamictal CD
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category
- C
Black Box Warning
This product has a black box warning relating to the risk of serious, potentially life threatening rashes requiring hospitalization.
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 27 Dec 1994
- Est US Patients*
- 2,113,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Lamictal or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Lamictal
There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Lamictal during the past year.
Lamictal Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
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What is Lamictal used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 15,600 patients that use Lamictal (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Bipolar Disorder | 47% |
mild
severe
|
| Epilepsy/Seizures | 40% |
mild
severe
|
| Depression | 22% |
mild
severe
|
| Anxiety | 14% |
mild
severe
|
| Other | 2% |
mild
severe
|
How well does Lamictal work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 15,600 users taking Lamictal (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 91%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Lamictal outweigh the bad things.
- 8%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Lamictal.
Common Side Effects of Lamictal
iGuard regularly polls our more than 15,600 users taking Lamictal (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
34% of patients experience side-effects on Lamictal
4% of patients experience significant side-effects on Lamictal
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Drowsiness
-
Headache
-
Insomnia
-
Mood/Behavior Changes
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Abdo Pain/Cramps, Acne, Balance/Coordination Problems, Constipation, Cough, Dryness, Fatigue, Grogginess/Confusion, Itch/Rash, Light Sensitivity, Memory/Speech Problems, Skin/Nail Problems, Suicidal Thoughts, Swelling/Edema, Tremor, Weight Gain
Global Patient Feedback for Lamictal (Lamotrigine) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I take 200 mg trazadone and 200 mg lamictal per day. I have very vivid nightmares adn dreams, mostly nightmares. I dream i wake up but am still sleeping. If i can pull myself out of sleep i am usually sweaty. i sleep very deep and am drowsy for hours after i awake. Thank you for sending me this e-mail. is this dose too much? i told my psychiatrist and he said keep taking it and it will go away. Should i try and switch to something else? I have been taking this since about April.
40 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-07-19 14:08:15
Answer/Reply:
I would definately switch if you have been on trazadone since April. It should have stopped by now and being that uncomfortable every night just isn't worth the benefits. There are plenty of other medications that can do for you what trazadone does, without the bad side effects. Its a trial and error test for quite awhile but take it from someone who felt like lab rat for 8 years, there is hope for the right combination. Don't settle, your doctor isn't the one who has to take these meds.
32 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-07-29 20:00:47
Question/Comment:
Can anybody experience leg cramps with Lamictal and Keppra?
42 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-06-25 08:36:43
Question/Comment:
from age 20 yrs old to 8 yrs ago (52) on phenobarbitol & seizure free. put on lamictal (600/day) because i was pre-osteop; exhasterbated by phenobarbitol. i had tonic clonic sept05 then another feb06. after stable i asked doc to change me to xr.(feb10) a month later had 2 seizures in a day. i can identify with mental issues comments, i.e. can't find words to complete a sentence, memory loss, confusion. also, diagnosed with ocd after the 2-06 seizure. why can't i go back to phenob?
61 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-06-24 15:11:18
Question/Comment:
Maximum dose of Lamictal is actually 600mg
Have been on them for 18 years for seizures and had no problems, have also just been put on Pregabalin and have none of the problems listed.
Female Source: iGuard United Kingdom
Posted: 2010-06-19 13:50:41
Question/Comment:
My doctor wants me to take lamictal for my back spasms. I was taking oxcarbazepine 300 mg 3 times a day. It really helped my back spasms and joint pain, but it interfered with some of my mental health drugs (decreasing their actions.) What can you tell me about lamictal and it's effects on back spasms and joint pain?
54 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-04-30 15:50:56
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Lamictal has been used in this type of pain with success. The pain improved but some side effects that were experienced were dizziness and diarrhea. You may need to titrate up to a dose that provides relief.
Posted: 2010-05-19 11:13:48
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
268
Patient Comments About
Lamictal