Lamotrigine: When and How Should We Take It? - Your Pharmacist Informs
Health video advice on Lamotrigine: what this medication is used for, and when and how to take it. Video advice given by pharmacist Juan Iniesta, prepared by the General Council of Pharmaceutical Colleges and produced by Medicina TV.
Lamotrigine is an antiepileptic drug that works by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels in neurons. It also inhibits the release of glutamate, the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, which plays a key role in the generation of epileptic seizures.
Based on this mechanism, the drug is indicated for the treatment of various types of seizures, such as absence seizures, partial seizures, and generalized seizures, in adults and children 2 years and older.
It is also indicated for the prevention of depressive episodes in adult patients with bipolar disorder type 1, in which depressive, manic, and mixed episodes alternate.
Lamotrigine medications are available at community pharmacies and are only dispensed with a prescription.
These medications come in chewable or dispersible tablet form, which can be chewed, dispersed in a small amount of water, or swallowed whole.
The available medications contain lamotrigine doses of 2, 5, 25, 50, 100, or 200 mg per tablet.
The dose used and the dosage prescribed by the doctor will depend on the patient's age, weight, and the presence or absence of concomitant treatments, whether other antiepileptic drugs or any other drugs that may affect lamotrigine's metabolism.
For example, valproate, which is also an antiepileptic drug, can increase lamotrigine levels in the body; while carbamazepine or the antibiotic rifampicin can decrease them.
However, treatment usually begins with low doses, which are gradually increased until the lowest effective dose is found.
If it is necessary to discontinue the drug, withdrawal should also be gradual, as abrupt withdrawal could lead to seizures.
During pregnancy, if treatment with lamotrigine is clinically deemed necessary, the lowest therapeutic dose possible should be used.
Like any drug, lamotrigine can cause some adverse effects. The most common include headache, rash, fatigue, drowsiness, and gastrointestinal discomfort.
And remember, always ask your trusted pharmacist. We will inform you about the effects and instructions for use of lamotrigine, and any other questions you may have.
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