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| Pronunciation |
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 (la
MOE tri
jeen) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Lamictal®; Lamictal®
CD |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Anticonvulsant, Miscellaneous |
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| What key warnings should I know
about before taking this
medicine? |
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- Serious rashes have been reported in some patients who take this
medicine. Children may be most likely to get these rashes. Most occur within a
few weeks of starting medicine but some cases appear only after months of use.
Usually, a rash should be a reason to stop taking this medicine. Talk with your
healthcare provider right away if you develop a
rash.
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to lamotrigine or any other part of the
medicine.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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|
- This medicine is commonly used to prevent or reduce the number of
seizures you have.
- It is also used as a mood stabilizer in manic depression.
- It is used as an add on treatment for Lennox-Gastaut
syndrome.
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| How does it work? |
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- Lamotrigine stabilizes the brain. It decreases excitement in the
brain.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
- Do not suddenly stop using this medicine if you have been taking it
for a long time. Medicine should be slowly decreased.
- A chewable tablet is available. Make sure to chew or crush
well.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with
healthcare provider.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Wear disease medical alert identification if taking for seizure
disorder.
- You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) and other medicines
and herbs that slow your actions and reactions. This includes sedatives,
tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, or pain medicine. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Feeling sleepy, dizzy, tired, having blurred or double vision, or
unable to think clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that
require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Headache. Mild pain medicine may help.
- Changes in balance, feeling shaky or unsteady.
- Rash. Talk with healthcare provider now if this
occurs.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Any rash.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room temperature.
Protect from moisture.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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