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| HOME > Taking LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT > Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
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My biggest problem is bipolar depression. Can LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT help? |  |
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Yes, LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT may help. In long-term studies, LAMICTAL Tablets were shown to be effective in the maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder. In particular, it can help lengthen the time between mood episodes in people 18 years or older who have been treat for mood episodes with other medicine. As always, I recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider to determine the best treatment for you. | |
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I'm feeling better - should I stop taking LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT? | |
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No, do not stop taking LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT or any of your other medications unless instructed by your healthcare provider. Contact your healthcare provider if you stop taking LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT for any reason. Do not restart without consulting your healthcare provider. Remember, do not increase your dose of LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT or take more frequent doses than those indicated by your healthcare provider. If you miss a dose of LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT, 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. |
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Why did my healthcare provider prescribe LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT? | |
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Remember, bipolar disorder is usually a lifelong condition. Your healthcare provider may have prescribed LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT to help you achieve your long-term treatment goals. LAMICTAL and LAMICTAL ODT do not take away the initial feelings of depression or mania you may be experiencing. Instead, LAMICTAL and LAMICTAL ODT can help lengthen the time between mood episodes, especially depression. Regular follow-up with your healthcare provider is important. | |
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Can I take LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT during pregnancy? | |
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The effects of LAMICTAL and LAMICTAL ODT during pregnancy are not known at this time. It is not known if LAMICTAL and LAMICTAL ODT will harm your unborn baby. If you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider. | |
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Isn't LAMICTAL and LAMICTAL ODT also used for epilepsy? | |
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Yes, LAMICTAL and LAMICTAL ODT are also FDA-approved therapies for several forms of epilepsy. This is not unusual; many medications have been shown to work for more than one health condition. | |
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Is LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT appropriate for children with bipolar disorder? | |
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LAMICTAL and LAMICTAL ODT are used for the long-term treatment bipolar I disorder to lengthen the time between mood episodes in people 18 years or older who have been treated for mood episodes with other medicine. Some medicines used to treat depression have been associated with suicidal thoughts and suicidal behavior in children or teenagers. It is not known if LAMICTAL and LAMICTAL ODT are safe or effective in children or teenagers under the age of 18 with mood disorders such as bipolar disorder or depression. | |
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Can I take other medications while I'm taking LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT? | |
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Some medications can interact with LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT. So, it's important to check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before taking any other medications or herbal remedies such as those sold in drugstores and health food stores. Do not start or stop taking birth control pills or other female hormonal products until you have talked with your healthcare provider. Also, tell your healthcare provider if you any changes in your menstrual pattern, such as breakthrough bleeding, while taking LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT and these medications. Stopping or starting these medicines may cause side effects (such as dizziness, lack of coordination, or double vision) or lessen how well LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT work. | |
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What should I do if I miss a dose of LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT? | |
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If you miss a dose of LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT 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. If you find that you are missing doses, ask your healthcare provider about ways to help you stay on track. Remember, do not stop taking LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT or any other medication unless your healthcare provider tells you to. Contact your healthcare provider if you stop taking LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT for any reason. Do not restart without consulting your healthcare provider. | |
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What are the common side effects? | |
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LAMICTAL ODT is another form of LAMICTAL. Common side effects with LAMICTAL include dizziness, headache, blurred or double vision, lack of coordination, sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, tremor, rash, fever, abdominal pain, back pain, tiredness, and dry mouth. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. Also, tell your healthcare provider if you have any changes in your menstrual pattern, such as breakthrough bleeding, while taking LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT and birth control pills. These are not all the possible side effects of LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT. | |
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Are any side effects of LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT serious? | |
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LAMICTAL ODT is another form of LAMICTAL. LAMICTAL may cause a serious skin rash that may cause you to be hospitalized or to stop LAMICTAL; it may rarely cause death. 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, within the first 2-8 weeks of treatment. But it can happen in people who have taken LAMICTAL for any period of time. Children between 2 to 16 years of age have a higher chance of getting this serious skin reaction while taking LAMICTAL. The risk of getting a rash is higher if taking LAMICTAL while taking valproate [Depakene* (valproic acid) or Depakote* (divalproex sodium)], taking a higher starting dose of LAMICTAL than a healthcare provider prescribed or increasing the dose of LAMICTAL faster than prescribed. LAMICTAL 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: a skin rash, hives, fever, swollen lymph glands, painful sores in the mouth or around your eyes, swelling of your lips or tongue, yellowing of your skin or eyes, unusual bruising or bleeding, severe fatigue or weakness, severe muscle pain or frequent infections. 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. Like other antiepileptic drugs, LAMICTAL may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500.Call a healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:
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How can I know if a mild rash will develop into something more serious? | |
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It is not possible to tell if a mild rash will develop into a more serious reaction. For this reason, it's important that if you develop any kind of skin rash, hives, fever, swollen glands in the neck, painful sores in the mouth and around the eyes, or swelling of the lips or tongue, tell a healthcare provider right away, since these symptoms may be the first signs of a serious reaction. A healthcare provider will evaluate the condition and decide whether LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT should be stopped. | |
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Important Safety Information About LAMICTAL® (lamotrigine) Tablets and LAMICTAL® ODT™ (lamotrigine) Orally Disintegrating TabletsLAMICTAL may cause a serious skin rash that may cause you to be hospitalized or to stop LAMICTAL; it may rarely cause death. 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, within the first 2-8 weeks of treatment. But it can happen in people who have taken LAMICTAL for any period of time. Children between 2 to 16 years of age have a higher chance of getting this serious skin reaction while taking LAMICTAL. The risk of getting a rash is higher if taking LAMICTAL while taking valproate [Depakene* (valproic acid) or Depakote* (divalproex sodium)], taking a higher starting dose of LAMICTAL than a healthcare provider prescribed or increasing the dose of LAMICTAL faster than prescribed. LAMICTAL 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: a skin rash, hives, fever, swollen lymph glands, painful sores in the mouth or around your eyes, swelling of your lips or tongue, yellowing of your skin or eyes, unusual bruising or bleeding, severe fatigue or weakness, severe muscle pain or frequent infections. 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. You should not take LAMICTAL if you have had an allergic reaction to lamotrigine or to any of the inactive ingredients. LAMICTAL may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500. Call a healthcare provider right away if you have worsening depression, any unusual changes in mood or behavior, or thoughts or actions about suicide or self-harm, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you (see Medication Guide). Always check that you receive LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT Patients prescribed LAMICTAL have sometimes been given the wrong medicine because many medicines have names similar to LAMICTAL, so always check that you receive LAMICTAL. Taking the wrong medication can cause serious health problems. When your healthcare provider gives you a prescription for LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT, make sure you can read it clearly. Talk to your pharmacist to check that you are given the correct medicine. Each time you fill your prescription, check the tablets you receive against the pictures of the tablets in the Medication Guide that comes with your prescription. Common side effects include dizziness, headache, blurred or double vision, lack of coordination, sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, tremor, rash, fever, abdominal pain, back pain, tiredness, and dry mouth. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. Also, tell your healthcare provider if you have any changes in your menstrual pattern, such as breakthrough bleeding, while taking LAMICTAL and birth control pills. These are not all the possible side effects of LAMICTAL.
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