How to Take Lamictal If You Have Bipolar Disorder

How to Take Lamictal If You Have Bipolar Disorder Bipolar Disorder Treatment Medications Print How to Take Lamictal If You Have Bipolar Disorder Starting Treatment Correctly to Avoid Severe Rash By Marcia Purse Marcia Purse is a mental health writer and bipolar disorder advocate who brings strong research skills and personal experiences to her writing. Learn about our editorial policy Marcia Purse Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on August 08, 2019 Bipolar Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes Treatment Living With In Children Your Rights Parhamr / Wikimedia Commons In This Article Table of Contents Expand Indications Formulations Lamictal in Pregnancy Common Side Effects Starting Treatment Drug Interactions Black Box Warning View All Lamictal (lamotrigine) is used as a mood stabilizer for people with bipolar disorder and as an anticonvulsant for people with epilepsy.?? When used to treat bipolar disorder, the drug helps reduce the cycling of moods characterized by bouts of depression alternating with bouts of mania. Starting treatment with Lamictal can be confusing since there are not only different formulations but different dosing instructions based on what other drugs you may be taking. While your doctor is always the best person to answer treatment-related questions, it does help to have a basic understanding of how Lamictal is prescribed and taken. Indications for Use When used for bipolar disorder, Lamictal is prescribed as a maintenance drug to control mood swings after acute symptoms have been treated and are in remission.?? It is prescribed specifically to treat bipolar I disorder (the more severe form of the disease) and only used in people 18 and over.?? Formulations Lamictal is offered in a tablet form and available in a number of different formulations and strengths:?? Lamictal tablets, available in 25-, 100-, 150-, and 200-milligram (mg) strengthsLamictal ODT (orally disintegrating tablet), available in 25-, 50-, 100-, and 200-mg strengthsLamictal CD (chewable dispersible) tablets, available in 2-, 5-, and 25-mg strengthsLamictal XR (extended release) tablets, available in 25-, 50-, 100-, 200-, 250-, and 300-mg strengths Lamictal XR is only used for the treatment of epilepsy, not bipolar disorder. Similarly, Lamictal CD is meant for children with epilepsy who can take the drug from the age of two. What the Therapeutic Drug Level of Your Bipolar Medication Means Lamictal in Pregnancy In terms of safety, Lamictal is classified as a class C drug, meaning that animals studies have demonstrated a risk of birth defects but studies in humans are lacking.?? As such, you need to work your doctor to weigh the benefits and consequences of taking Lamictal if youre pregnant or breastfeeding. Your Lamictal dose may need to be adjusted if you become pregnant. During pregnancy, blood serum concentrations of Lamictal can decrease by up to 30%. Common Side Effects Lamictal can cause side effects, many of which are transient and will resolve once your body adapts to the medication. The most common side effects (affecting at least five percent of users) are:?? Dizziness (affecting 38 percent of users)Headaches (29 percent)Double vision (28 percent)Unsteadiness (22 percent)Nausea (19 percent)Blurred vision (16 percent)Drowsiness (14 percent)Nasal drip and sneezing (14 percent)Rash (10 percent)Sore throat (10 percent)Vomiting (9 percent)Cough (8 percent)Flu-like symptoms (7 percent)Menstrual cramps (7 percent)Diarrhea (6 percent)Fever (6 percent)Insomnia (6 percent)Loss of coordination (6 percent)Abdominal pain (5 percent)Indigestion (5 percent) Lamictal tablets can be taken with or without water or food, but if you have side effects like nausea, taking your medication with a small snack may help. Starting Treatment To avoid the risk of a hypersensitivity reaction, Lamictal is usually  started at a lower dose and gradually increased over a period of six to seven weeks.?? To this end, starter kits are available for both Lamictal and Lamictal ODT which provide instructions on how and when to increase dosages. The instructions vary based on whether you are taking Lamictal alone or with other drugs.?? The starter kit is recommended whether you are starting Lamictal for the first time or restarting therapy. Guideline for Starting Lamictal If taking Lamictal with sodium valproate If taking Lamictal alone (monotherapy) If taking Lamictal with Tegretol Weeks 1 and 2 25 mg every other day 25 mg daily 50 mg daily Weeks 3 and 4 25 mg daily 50 mg daily 100 mg daily (in divided doses) Week 5 50 mg daily 100 mg daily 200 mg daily (in divided doses) Week 6 100 mg daily 200 mg daily 300 mg daily (in divided doses) Week 7 100 mg daily 200 mg daily Up to 400 mg daily (in divided doses) The two drugs commonly prescribed with Lamictal to treat bipolar disorder are sodium valproate (marketed under the brand names Depakote, Depakene, and others) and Tegretol (carbamazepine).?? Drug Interactions Oral contraceptives containing estrogen may affect the concentration of Lamictal in your blood and require a dose adjustment.?? Always advise your doctor if you are taking (or have stopped taking) an estrogen-containing oral contraceptive. Because of Lamictals effects on the central nervous system, you will need to be careful about drinking alcohol or taking medications such as  muscle relaxants, antihistamines, cold medications, or sedatives as Lamictal may amplify their psychoactive side effects.?? The bottom line is to always advise your doctor about any prescription or non-prescription drugs (including recreational drugs) you may be taking without exception. Black Box Warning In around one of every 1,000 people taking Lamictal, a potentially life-threatening hypersensitivity drug rash may develop.?? It most commonly occurs in adults who are taking the drug on its own for the first time. The rash can be extremely serious and lead to conditions known as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) or toxic epidermal necrosis (TEN), both of which  require emergency medical treatment. Most hypersensitivity reactions occur two to eight weeks after starting treatment, although some cases have been known to develop six months later. As such, the appearance of any rash should be taken seriously and seen s a matter of urgency. After stopping Lamictal, pain medications, topical steroids, and other drugs may be  needed to treat the hypersensitivity rash. Severe cases require hospitalizations. Once a hypersensitivity reaction has occurred, no matter how mild, Lamictal treatment should never be restarted. What a Black Box Warning on Your Medication Means