What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Taking Vimpat?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking
Vimpat® (
lacosamide) if you have:
- Depression
- A history of suicidal thoughts or behaviors
- An irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
- Heart failure
- Had a heart attack or other serious heart problems
- Liver disease, such as liver failure, hepatitis, or cirrhosis
- Kidney disease, such as kidney failure or renal failure
- Any allergies, including allergies to foods, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
- Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- Breastfeeding.
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Specific Vimpat Warnings and Precautions
Some warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking Vimpat include the following:
- Studies suggest that seizure medications may increase the risk of suicide. Make sure to watch for any usual behaviors or mood changes, and be sure your family and friends know to keep an eye out for such problems.
- Vimpat can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and coordination problems. You may want to see how Vimpat affects you before driving or operating heavy machinery.
- Rarely, Vimpat can cause irregular heart rhythms. Be watchful for symptoms of an irregular heart rhythm, such as fainting, heart palpitations, or a rapid or slow pulse. These problems may be more likely in people with heart problems.
- Seizure medications, including Vimpat, can cause severe allergic reactions that can affect multiple organs in the body. Let your healthcare provider know right away if you develop an unexplained rash, especially if it is accompanied by a fever.
- As with all seizure medications, you should not suddenly stop taking Vimpat, as this can cause a worsening of seizures.
- Vimpat has not been adequately studied in people with liver problems. Your healthcare provider may want to monitor you more closely and might recommend a lower Vimpat dosage.
- Vimpat can interact with other medications (see Vimpat Drug Interactions).
- Vimpat is considered a pregnancy Category C medication. This means that it may not be safe for use during pregnancy, although the full risks are not currently known (see Vimpat and Pregnancy).
- It is not known if Vimpat passes through breast milk in humans. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start breastfeeding, discuss this with your healthcare provider prior to taking the drug (see Vimpat and Breastfeeding).
