What Is Lamictal XR Used For?
Lamictal® XR™ (
extended-release lamotrigine) is a prescription
seizure medication. It is a long-acting, extended-release formulation that is taken just once a day. Specifically,
Lamictal XR is approved for use in combination with other
seizure medications to treat partial-onset seizures in people age 13 and older.
As is typical with new seizure medications, Lamictal XR is not licensed to be used alone, as it has not been adequately studied in this fashion. In studies, people were given either Lamictal XR or a placebo (a "sugar pill" with no active ingredients) to take in addition to their usual seizure medications. It would be unethical to give a person with
epilepsy just a placebo without the other medications.
There are more than 30 different
types of seizures a person with epilepsy may experience. These seizures are generally classified into two main categories: partial-onset seizures (also known as focal seizures or simply partial seizures) and generalized seizures.
Partial seizures occur in just one part of the brain. Two types of partial-onset seizures are:
- Simple partial seizures, in which a person will remain conscious but experience unusual feelings or sensations that can take many forms.
- Complex partial seizures, in which a person has a change in or loss of consciousness. People having a complex partial seizure may display strange, repetitious behaviors, such as blinks, twitches, mouth movements, or even walking in a circle.
A seizure can start out as a partial seizure before turning into a generalized seizure (this is known as secondary generalization). Generalized seizures are a result of abnormal brain activity on both sides of the brain. These seizures may cause loss of consciousness, falls, or massive muscle spasms. The two most common forms are absence seizures (also known as petit mal seizures) and tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal seizures).
