Lamotrigine

What is lamotrigine?

Lamotrigine is used to control some types of seizures.

You may hear lamotrigine called by its brand name, Lamictal. Lamotrigine is available as a regular tablet and as a chewable tablet.

Before giving this medicine to your child

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if your child:

• Is allergic to lamotrigine

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if your child has any of the following conditions. Precautions may need to be taken with this medicine if your child has:

• heart disease
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• thalassemia (an inherited problem of the red blood cells)

How should you give your child this medicine?

• Give lamotrigine exactly as your child's doctor or pharmacist has told you.
• Lamotrigine can be given with or without food.
• If your child is taking regular tablets, and cannot swallow them whole, they may be cut or crushed and sprinkled over soft food, such as pudding or applesauce.
• Use only small amounts of soft food to ensure that your child eats the full amount.
• If your child is taking chewable/dispersible tablets, they may be swallowed whole, chewed, or mixed with a small amount of liquid (water or juice) and then swallowed right away.

What should you do if your child misses a dose?

• Give the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Give the next dose at the regular time.
• Do not give your child two doses to make up for one missed dose.

How long does this medicine take to work?

Lamotrigine may take up to several weeks to reach its full effect.

What are the possible side effects of this medicine?

Your child may have some of these side effects while they take lamotrigine. Check with your child's doctor if your child continues to have any of these side effects and they do not go away, or they bother your child:

• headache
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• nausea and vomiting (throwing up)
• trouble sleeping
• upset stomach
• dry mouth

Call your child's doctor during office hours if your child has any of these side effects:

• double vision or blurred vision
• unusual clumsiness
• mood or mental changes

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem. Call your child's doctor right away or take your child to Emergency if your child has any of these side effects:

• skin rash
• fever and flu-like symptoms
• increase in seizures
• trouble breathing
• swelling of the face, mouth, hands, or feet
• unusual bleeding or bruising

What safety measures should you take when your child is using this medicine?

Other medications may interact with lamotrigine and your doctor may want to change the dose of lamotrigine. Make sure that your doctor or pharmacist knows if your child is also taking:

• valproic acid (Depakene, Epival)
• phenobarbital
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• primidone (Mysoline)
• carbamazepine (Tegretol)
• oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)

Also, check with your child's doctor or pharmacist before giving your child any other medicines (prescription, non-prescription, herbal, or natural products).

Lamotrigine may make your child's skin more likely to sunburn. To help prevent sunburn:

• Avoid direct sunlight for long periods of time.
• Cover your child's skin and head with clothing and a hat when outside.
• Apply a sunblock with an SPF of 15 or higher.
• Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.

If you see any sign of a rash on your child's body, hold the next dose of lamotrigine until you speak with your child's doctor. Do not suddenly stop giving your child lamotrigine for any other reason, because your child's seizures may increase. The doctor may want to slowly reduce the dose before stopping it completely.

What other important information should you know?

• Do not share your child's medicine with others. Do not give anyone else's medicine to your child.
• Make sure you always have enough lamotrigine to last through weekends, holidays, and vacations. Call your pharmacy at least 2 days before your child runs out of medicine to order refills.
• Keep lamotrigine at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Do NOT store it in the bathroom or kitchen.
• Do not keep any medicines that are out of date. Check with your pharmacist about the best way to throw away outdated or leftover medicines.
  

Keep lamotrigine out of your child’s sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much lamotrigine, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free. 

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.