What are the long term effects of taking lamotrigine?

Many people can take lamotrigine safely for several months or years. But there are some side effects that might happen over a long time. Long-term treatment with lamotrigine can cause osteoporosis and osteopenia, increasing your risk of breaking a bone. Your doctor can arrange for tests to check your bone strength.

What happens if you stop lamotrigine cold turkey?

Do not stop taking lamotrigine without talking to your doctor, even if you experience side effects such as unusual changes in behavior or mood. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually. If you suddenly stop taking lamotrigine, you may experience seizures.

What are the side effects of lamotrigine 50 mg?

Common side effects may include:

• headache, dizziness;
• blurred vision, double vision;
• tremor, loss of coordination;
• dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea;
• fever, sore throat, runny nose;
• drowsiness, tired feeling;
• back pain; or.
• sleep problems (insomnia).

Can lamotrigine make you worse?

Serious side effects of Lamictal you should report to your doctor include: rash, worsening depression or suicidal thoughts, and. flu-like symptoms such as body aches or swollen glands.

Is Lamictal good for depression?

Lamotrigine is the only mood stabilizer that calms mood swings by lifting the depression rather than suppressing the mania, says Dr. Aiken. “That makes it a great choice for the bipolar spectrum, where the depressive symptoms usually outweigh the manic ones. Its greatest benefit is in prevention.

Is lamotrigine a mood stabilizer?

Lamotrigine is a mood stabilizer medication that works in the brain. It is approved for the treatment of bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) and certain types of seizure disorders.

What happens if I stop taking lamotrigine after a while?

Do not stop taking lamotrigine even when you feel better. Only your healthcare provider can determine the length of lamotrigine treatment that is right for you. Missing doses of lamotrigine may increase your risk for a relapse in your mood symptoms.

How many milligrams of lamotrigine should you take a day?

Practical summary points. A standard initiation and titration practice involves the initiation of lamotrigine at a daily dose of 25 mg, and increasing this to 50 mg per day after one to two weeks, then doubling the dose every one to two weeks until a dose of 200 mg per day is reached.

How do you titrate lamotrigine?

A standard initiation and titration practice involves the initiation of lamotrigine at a daily dose of 25 mg, and increasing this to 50 mg per day after one to two weeks, then doubling the dose every one to two weeks until a dose of 200 mg per day is reached.

How is lamotrigine different from other mood stabilizing drugs?

There are 2 major areas where Lamotrigine differs from other options –. Effectiveness – Patients who do not respond to other mood stabilizing drugs and antidepressants have reacted positively to Lamotrigine. Side Effects – The side effects of Lamotrigine are relatively harmless as compared to other options.