Lamictal Oral - LAMOTRIGINE CHEWABLE / DISPERSIBLE

Warnings
Rarely, serious (sometimes fatal) skin rashes have occurred while taking this medication. These rashes (e.g., Stevens-Johnson syndrome) are more common in children under 16 than in adults. Therefore, lamotrigine should not be used in children except for the treatment of partial seizures or seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Rashes may be more likely if you start at too high a dose, if your dose increases too quickly, or if you take it with certain anti-seizure medications (valproic acid, divalproex). Most serious rashes occur within 2 to 8 weeks of starting lamotrigine, but such rashes may occur anytime during use. (See also Side Effects section.)
Seek immediate medical attention if you develop any type of skin rash while taking this medication, or if you have hives, fever, swollen lymph glands, painful sores in the mouth or around the eyes, or swelling of the lips or tongue. Your doctor will tell you if you should stop taking lamotrigine. Even after you stop taking this medication, it is still possible for the rash to become life-threatening or cause permanent scars or other problems.

Uses
Lamotrigine is used alone or with other medications to prevent or control seizures (epilepsy) in people aged 2 and older. It may also be used to help prevent the extreme mood swings of bipolar disorder in people aged 18 and older.
This medication is an anticonvulsant. Lamotrigine is thought to work by restoring the balance of certain natural substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain.

How to use Lamictal Oral
Read the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start taking lamotrigine and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions regarding the information, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Take this medication with or without food as directed by your doctor. The chewable/dispersible tablets may be swallowed whole, chewed, or mixed in water or fruit juice. If the tablets are chewed, drink a small amount of water or juice to help you swallow all of the medication. To disperse the tablets, add tablets to a small amount of liquid (enough to cover the medication) in a glass or spoon. Wait 1 minute until the tablets are completely dissolved, then drink the entire mixture. Use only whole tablets from undamaged packaging. Do not save the opened or dissolved tablets for later use.
The dose must be increased slowly. Your dosage is based on your medical condition, response to treatment, and use of certain other interacting drugs (e.g., hormones such as estrogens, anti-seizure drugs such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, valproate). (See also Drug Interactions section.) Do not start or stop using hormonal forms of birth control (e.g., birth control pills, patch, ring) or other female hormonal products without consulting your doctor. Report any changes in your menstrual pattern (e.g., bleeding between menstrual periods) to your doctor.
It is very important to follow your doctor's dosing instructions exactly. It may take several weeks or months to reach the best dose for you and to get the full benefit from this medication. Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same time(s) each day.
Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when the drug is suddenly stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased. Also, if you have stopped taking this medication, do not restart lamotrigine without consulting your doctor.
Tell your doctor if your condition worsens or if you develop other new symptoms during your treatment.

Before taking lamotrigine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, rash while taking lamotrigine.
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy; use caution while engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery. Limit alcoholic beverages.
Though not proven, lamotrigine may cause harm to an unborn baby if used during the first three months of pregnancy (cleft palate). Therefore, this medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Promptly discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor if you are pregnant, think you are pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant. Do not stop using this medication before talking with your doctor.
This drug may pass into breast milk and could have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Therefore, breast-feeding is not recommended while using this drug. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Overdose
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly. Symptoms of overdose may include: unusual sleepiness, severe loss of coordination, and loss of consciousness.

NOTES:
Do not share this medication with others.
Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., liver function tests, blood tests) may be performed from time to time to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

MISSED DOSE:
It is important to take each dose at the scheduled time. If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

STORAGE:
Store at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from heat, light and moisture. Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

MEDICAL ALERT:
Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For enrollment information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854- 1166 (USA) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).

Dizziness, headache, blurred/double vision, nasal congestion, lack of coordination, shaking (tremor), muscle weakness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, painful menstrual cramps, difficulty sleeping, and lower stomach/abdominal discomfort may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: unusual mental/mood changes.
This medication rarely may cause mood or behavior changes, such as anxiety, agitation, hostility, pressured/rapid speech, or thoughts of suicide. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop unusual (possibly sudden) mood changes.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: easy bruising/bleeding, black/bloody stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, unusual tiredness, signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat), muscle pain/tenderness, muscle weakness, dark/bloody urine, change in the amount of urine, yellowing of eyes/skin.
Seek immediate medical attention if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: chest pain, slurred speech, weakness on one side of the body.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. (See also Warning section.) Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, fever, itching, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: other medications for seizures (e.g., carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, valproic acid), rifampin, ritonavir, hormonal birth control (e.g., pills, patches) or other female hormonal products, medications that affect the way your body uses folic acid (e.g., methotrexate, trimethoprim).
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), medicine for sleep or anxiety (e.g., alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., chlorpromazine, risperidone, amitriptyline, trazodone).
Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products.
This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.