Lamictal (lamotrigine)

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Skin rashes

Headache

Drowsiness

Dizziness

Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain

Pain in the joints or back pain

Difficulty in sleeping (insomnia)

Visual disturbances, such as double vision or blurred vision

Shaking, usually of the hands (tremor)

Confusion

Agitation

Irritability

Aggression

Hallucinations

Disturbances in the numbers of blood cells in the blood

Shaky movements and unsteady walk (ataxia)

Severe blistering skin reaction affecting the tissues of the eyes, mouth, throat and genitals (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome)

Disturbances of liver function

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.

Valproate (as sodium valproate, valproate semisodium or valproic acid) increases the blood level of lamotrigine. If you are taking a valproate medicine when you start treatment with lamotrigine, your starting dose of lamotrigine will be increased more gradually than normal. You should carefully follow the instructions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist.

Hormonal contraceptives (eg the pill) can reduce the amount of lamotrigine in the blood and make it less effective at controlling seizures. In addition, lamotrigine can make the pill less effective at preventing pregnancy. For this reason, women taking lamotrigine who need a contraceptive should preferably use a non-hormonal method such as condoms. When you start taking lamotrigine your doctor will review your contraception and advise on methods that are safe and effective for you to use. A hormonal contraceptive should only be used as the sole method of contraception if there is no other alternative. If the pill is chosen as your only method of contraception, you must tell your doctor if you experience changes in your menstrual pattern (eg breakthrough bleeding), as this may indicate that your pill is becoming less effective at preventing pregnancy. It is also important to tell your doctor if you plan to start or stop using hormonal contraceptives such as the pill while taking lamotrigine, as your lamotrigine dose may need re-adjusting.

The use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in combination with lamotrigine has not been studied, but it may interact in a similar way to hormonal contraceptives.

The following medicines may also reduce the blood level of lamotrigine:

carbamazepine

phenobarbitone (phenobarbital)

phenytoin

primidone

rifampicin.

If you are taking any of these medicines with lamotrigine your doctor may need to increase your lamotrigine dose.

There may be an increased chance of side effects such as headache, dizziness, blurred vision, double vision, sleepiness and nausea if carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine are taken with lamotrigine. If this occurs your doctor may need to reduce the dose of the carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

Lamotrigine tablets and dispersible tablets are also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.

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