Medication for Bipolar Disorder - Lamictal
It is important to understand the medication we take. I have been taking Lamictal for the last 2 years for my bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness).
I did a search on google and found the following information:
* Prescription LAMICTAL is used for the long-term treatment of bipolar I disorder to lengthen the time between mood episodes in people 18 years or older who have been treated for mood episodes with other medicine. It is not known if LAMICTAL is safe or effective in children or teenagers under the age of 18 with mood disorders such as bipolar disorder or depression.
* How LAMICTAL Can Help?
LAMICTAL does not take away the initial feelings of depression or mania you may be experiencing. Instead, LAMICTAL helps keep mood episodes from coming back for an extended period of time. This was shown in 2 landmark clinical studies lasting approximately a year and a half. Of the patients remaining at the end of the studies, 37% of patients receiving LAMICTAL vs 22% receiving placebo had not received additional treatment for a mood episode.
In two long-term (18-month) studies of adult patients with bipolar I disorder:
* LAMICTAL was effective in delaying the time until additional treatment was needed for a mood episode.
* LAMICTAL was particularly effective in delaying depression-- the type of mood episode that happens most often and lasts the longest.
LAMICTAL is the only bipolar medication proven to provide long-term stability up to 18 months. In two studies, LAMICTAL provided 129% more intervention-free* days as compared to placebo.
Use beyond 18 months should be periodically reevaluated.
Ask your healthcare provider if LAMICTAL is the right bipolar medication for you.
*Intervention is defined as time until additional treatment was needed.
"LAMICTAL helps keep my mood stable."
For a list of key clinical studies regarding the use of LAMICTAL in bipolar I disorder, click here.
Important Safety Information About LAMICTAL® (lamotrigine) Tablets
Prescription LAMICTAL Tablets are not for everyone. Most people who take LAMICTAL tolerate it well. Common side effects with LAMICTAL include dizziness, headache, blurred or double vision, lack of coordination, sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, tremor, and rash. LAMICTAL may cause other side effects not listed here. If you develop any side effects or symptoms you are concerned about, or if you need more information, call your doctor.
Although most patients who develop a rash while receiving LAMICTAL have mild to moderate symptoms, some individuals may develop a serious skin reaction that requires hospitalization. It is not possible to predict whether a mild rash will develop into a more serious reaction. Rarely, deaths have been reported. These serious skin reactions are most likely to happen within the first 8 weeks of treatment with LAMICTAL. Serious skin reactions occur more often in children than in adults.
Rashes may be more likely to occur if you: (1) take LAMICTAL in combination with valproate [brand names are Depakene®* (valproic acid) and Depakote®* (divalproex sodium)], (2) take a higher starting dose of LAMICTAL than your doctor prescribed, or (3) increase your dose of LAMICTAL faster than prescribed.
If you experience any of the following with or without a skin rash, tell your doctor immediately: hives, fever, swollen lymph glands, painful sores in the mouth or around the eyes, or swelling of lips or tongue. These symptoms may be the first signs of a serious reaction. A doctor should evaluate your condition and decide if you should continue taking LAMICTAL.
Serious blood problems or liver problems have been reported with LAMICTAL, so tell your doctor if you develop symptoms such as unusual bruising or bleeding, severe muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, yellowing of the eyes or skin, and/or frequent infections.
You should not take LAMICTAL if you had an allergic reaction to it in the past.
Always check that you receive LAMICTAL.
Some patients prescribed LAMICTAL have been given the wrong medicine in error. Taking the wrong medication can cause serious health problems. When your healthcare provider gives you a prescription for LAMICTAL, make sure that both you and your pharmacist can read it clearly. Compare the tablets in the pill bottle to those pictured in the Patient Information leaflet that comes with your prescription.
*Depakene and Depakote are registered trademarks of Abbott Laboratories
(taken from website of Lamictal.com)
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