Lamictal
® (
lamotrigine) is a prescription drug used for treating various
types of seizures in people with
epilepsy. It is also approved as a mood stabilizer to treat
bipolar disorder. Lamictal is taken orally and comes in three different forms: regular tablets, orally disintegrating tablets, and Lamictal CD ("chewable dispersible") tablets.
Oral
Lamictal tablets are taken by mouth, usually once or twice a day. Lamictal CD tablets can be swallowed whole, chewed, or "dispersed" in a small amount of liquid. Orally disintegrating tablets are dissolved in the mouth. If needed, the regular tablets can be broken in half to obtain the proper dosage. It is important to take the medication at the same time(s) each day to maintain an even level of Lamictal in your blood.
Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain that causes brief changes in how the brain's electrical system works. This change in brain activity can lead to a
seizure. It is not known exactly how Lamictal works for treating epilepsy. Studies suggest that the drug may work to control
seizures by affecting sodium channels in the brain, preventing the abnormal activity from spreading to other parts of the brain.
It is also not exactly known how Lamictal works to treat
bipolar disorder.
(Click Lamictal for more information on when and how to take Lamictal, to learn about the specific effects of this medication, and to find out what side effects may occur with the drug.)
