What is Lamictal Used For?

By Heather Colman - 2006-09-10 - Viewed 5641 times. Find more articles like this in our Drugs category.

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Lamotrigine, a drug commercially known as Lamictal is a type of anticonvulsant drug manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, one of the leading Drug manufacturers.

This drug is used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorders. It passed the standards of the Food and Drug Administration and it is one of the most recommended and most effective anticonvulsant drug treatments today.

Epilepsy patients who experience partial seizures, secondary tonic-closure seizures, and Lenno-Gastaut syndrome are given Lamictal to reduce the frequency of the disease.

Lenno-Gastaut Syndrome or LGS is one of the reasons why children do not develop completely as they age. It occurs as early as four years old, and there is no treatment that can cure this disease completely. Although it makes the child very fragile, but there is a way to minimize the attacks, and that can be done through Lamictal.

For patients with bipolar disorders, Lamictal is the only anticonvulsant drug given. It received the FDA approval in 2003 and it is one of the drugs endorsed by the American Psychiatric Association for treating bipolar disease since 2002. This drug can cure bipolar depression without the set off of hypomania, mixed states, mania, and rapid cycling. It can also acts as a mood stabilizer, especially during the depression stage. However, it is not recommended for treating heightened cases of bipolar disease.

Patients who take Lamictal may experience dizziness, headaches, and insomnia. It can also cause rashes, especially on children, which is why this medication is recommended for adults, as much as possible. The rashes produced by the chemical in the drug are called Stevens-Johnson syndrome. These rashes may worsen if the patient is also taking or had recently stopped taking an anticonvulsant drug, such as valproates. Anticonvulsant drugs may affect each other's effectiveness, which is why the medication should be strictly monitored.

However, there are cases wherein the intake of valproates and lamictal is necessary during the medication of LGS or Lenno-Gastaut Syndrome.

The usage of Lamictal also causes the tissues on the iris of the eye to bind, as of now, the long-term effect of the Lamictal in this case has not yet been determined but scientists are now working on discovering its possible side effects.

Lamictal can be given to women during the post-pregnant period provided that it doesn't affect the baby. Patients who just gave birth should not breastfeed as traces of Lamictal are found in the milk and could be passed on to the baby through breastfeeding.

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