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About LAMICTAL and LAMICTAL ODT
Taking LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT
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Getting Started with LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT

If your healthcare provider thinks you should take LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT, it is easy to get started. LAMICTAL and LAMICTAL ODT are available in easy-to-follow 5-week kits.

To help give LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT the best chance of working for you, take it exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. And as you begin treatment, there are a few things to keep in mind:

What to expect in the beginning

When you start taking LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT for your bipolar I disorder:
  • Your healthcare provider may start you on LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT whether or not you are currently having a mood episode. Remember, LAMICTAL and LAMICTAL ODT are used to lengthen the time between mood episodes, not to treat episodes that are already happening.
  • Like many medications, LAMICTAL and LAMICTAL ODT must be started at a low dose and gradually increased over several weeks. Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions on how much LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT to take and when to take it.
  • Tell your healthcare provider if you have any symptoms, side effects, or problems.Together you can help make sure your treatment plan works for you.
  • If you are taking LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT to help prevent extreme mood swings, you may not experience the full effect for several weeks. Occasionally, the symptoms of depression or bipolar disorder may include thoughts of harming yourself or committing suicide.

    LAMICTAL and LAMICTAL ODT 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:
    • thoughts about suicide or dying
    • attempt to commit suicide
    • new or worse depression
    • new or worse anxiety
    • feeling agitated or restless
    • panic attacks
    • trouble sleeping (insomnia)
    • new or worse irritability
    • acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
    • acting on dangerous impulses
    • an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
    • other unusual changes in behavior or mood
    Do not stop LAMICTAL without first talking to a healthcare provider.
    • Stopping LAMICTAL suddenly can cause serious problems.
    • Suicidal thoughts or actions can be caused by things other than medicines. If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, your healthcare provider may check for other causes.
    How can I watch for early symptoms of suicidal thoughts and actions?
    • Pay attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.
    • Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled.
    • Call your healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you are worried about symptoms.
    If you are thinking about suicide:
    • Call 911. Get help right away before you act on these thoughts.
    • Talk with your healthcare provider.
    • Do not stay alone.
    • Call the National Hopeline Network at 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433).
    • Please call your healthcare provider or therapist for additional information.
  • For more information about taking LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT, please see the Medication Guide.

The name means everything

Always check that you receive LAMICTAL or
LAMICTAL ODT

Patients prescribed LAMICTAL (lah-MICK-tall) and LAMICTAL ODT have sometimes been given the wrong medicine in error because many medicines have names similar to LAMICTAL so always check that you receive LAMICTAL or LAMICTAL ODT. 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 below or in the Medication Guide that comes with your prescription.

LAMICTAL is available in multiple tablet strengths:
illustration of LAMICTAL tablets in the 25 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, and 200 mg strengths.


     "I was concerned about starting a new medication. My doctor answered my questions and gave me an easy-to-follow 5-week kit for LAMICTAL."
 
Resource Links
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with Bipolar Disorder
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Provider
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  Online Resources
 
Important Safety Information about LAMICTAL and LAMICTAL ODT

Prescription LAMICTAL Tablets are not for everyone. 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.

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).

You should not take LAMICTAL if you have had an allergic reaction to lamotrigine or to any of the inactive ingredients.

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.

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.

*Depakene and Depakote are registered trademarks of Abbott Laboratories


Medication Guide for LAMICTAL® (lamotrigine) and LAMICTAL® ODT™ (lamotrigine) Orally Disintegrating Tablets

Complete Prescribing Information for LAMICTAL® (lamotrigine) and LAMICTAL® ODT™ (lamotrigine) Orally Disintegrating Tablets

Complete Prescribing Information is provided in Adobe’s Portable Document Format (PDF). To view these documents, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have it and you are unable to or do not wish to download Acrobat Reader, but still wish to receive complete Prescribing Information, please click here.

 
 
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