About Lamictal

Lamotrigine has broad efficacy in epilepsy. Thus simple focal seizures, complex psychomotor seizures, the so-called grand times in various forms and mixed epilepsy forms with lamotrigine as single active substance can be treated well.

What is the purpose of this ingredient?

• • treat different forms of epilepsy
  • prevent epileptic seizures during alcohol withdrawal

Preventing manic-depressive phases in depression

• relieve pain in migraine and nerve pain such as trigeminal neuralgia
• Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and cutaneous ( Huntington’s disease), relieving seizures in the status epilepticus

This is how Lamotrigin works

Below you will learn more about the fields of application and the mode of action of Lamotrigine.
Please also read the information on the drug group antiepileptic drugs,
to which the active ingredient lamotrigine belongs.

Applications of the active ingredient Lamotrigine

Lamotrigine has broad efficacy in epilepsy. Thus simple focal seizures, complex psychomotor seizures, the so-called grand times in various forms and mixed epilepsy forms with lamotrigine as a single active substance can be treated well.

In the so-called Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (a specific childhood seizure of epilepsy), lamotrigine may be used as adjunctive therapy even in children from two to eleven years of age.

Depending on the manufacturer of a drug, lamotrigine is also approved for the treatment of other conditions:

To prevent seizure in alcohol withdrawal. This application may only be done in a hospital.

For the prevention of depression associated with manic-depressive disease syndromes, when lithium therapy has failed or patients should not be treated with lithium.

In addition to these recognized areas of application, there are other medical conditions that can be treated with lamotrigine. It can reduce the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and chorea (Huntington’s disease), seizures in the epileptic state, and pain in migraine and certain neurological disorders (such as trigeminal neuralgia).

More detailed information is available on the following Lamotrigin application areas:

• depression
• epilepsies

Action of Lamotrigine

Lamotrigine is a new generation antiepileptic drug whose chemical structure does not resemble any other member of this group of drugs.

Lamotrigine is very well tolerated compared to other antiepileptic drugs. Therapy discontinuations due to severe side effects are much less common than with other antiepileptic drugs. Lamotrigine hardly makes you tired and does not interfere significantly with the thinking processes, this is beneficial for the patients. Its biggest drawback is the frequent severe intolerance reactions that can occur. By slowly increasing (cradling) the dose, however, these dangerous allergic reactions can be largely avoided.

The mechanism of action of lamotrigine is interesting because it is the first drug to have antiepileptic activity by attenuating stimulating impulses. Lamotrigine prevents the release of the neurotransmitter glutamate, the main neurotransmitter of stimulating impulses. Thus, lamotrigine inhibits the transmission of stimuli. It causes the blockage of long-lasting, repetitive discharges in nerve cells and prevents both the release of glutamate and the excess discharges caused by glutamate.

This effect is achieved by influencing voltage-dependent sodium channels. However, the effect on these channels of sodium is obviously not the same as with phenytoin or carbamazepine, as these drugs do not act primarily via glutamate inhibition.

Furthermore, lamotrigine has a soothing and calming effect as well as antidepressant and muscle relaxant properties. These, as well as the analgesic properties of lamotrigine in nerve pain, are probably due to an inhibition of the transmission of the nerves in the spinal cord.

Potential Lamictal side effects may include:

Effect

Percentage

Fatigue

33%

Concentration disorders

21%

Increase in weight

14%

Sleep disorders

12%

No side effects

12%

Hair loss

10%

Tremble

8%

Dizziness

8%

Nausea

7%

Anxiety states

7%

Lamictal used to treat the following diseases:

Disease

Percentage

Epilepsy

70%

Bipolar disorder

11%

Depression

10%

Mood swings

4%

Sleep disorders

4%