When treating epilepsy, Lamictal can be used:
- Alone to treat adults with partial seizures who are switching from a single epilepsy medication
- With other seizure medications to treat partial seizures in adults and children as young as two years old
- With other seizure medications to treat generalized seizures due to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in adults and children as young as two years old
- With other seizure medications to treat generalized tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal seizures) in adults and children as young as two years old.
When indications suggest using Lamictal as a mood stabilizer for people with
bipolar disorder, this medication serves as a "maintenance" treatment. This means that it is approved to help people with the condition keep their moods stable and to prevent episodes of mania and
depression. The drug is not approved to treat these episodes themselves -- other medications may be more appropriate for treating acute episodes of mania or depression.
Another possible Lamictal indication is its
off-label use to treat absence seizures (also known as petit mal seizures).
(Click Lamictal Uses for a more in-depth look at Lamictal indications, including information on how this medication may work, its use in children, and how it can help relieve symptoms of various conditions.)
