Search Suggest

Lamotrigine: Uses,Dosage,Side Effects

Generic Name
Lamotrigine
Therapeutic Class: Drugs of Nervous System (Primary anti-epileptic drugs)

Indications:
Lamotrigine is indicated for:
Epilepsy-combination therapy in patients aged 2 years and older:
  • partial-onset seizures
  • primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures
  • generalized seizures of Lennox-Gastaut 
  • syndrome epilepsy-monotherapy in patients aged 16 years and older.
Adults with Bipolar Disorder.

Presentation:
Lamotrigine 2: Each chewable/dispersible tablet contains Lamotrigine BP 2 mg.
Lamotrigine 5: Each chewable/dispersible tablet contains Lamotrigine BP 5 mg.
Lamotrigine 25: Each tablet contains Lamotrigine BP 25 mg.
Lamotrigine 50: Each tablet contains Lamotrigine BP 50 mg.

Description:
The exact mechanism of action of lamotrigine is not fully elucidated, as it may exert cellular activities that contribute to its efficacy in a range of conditions. Although chemically unrelated, lamotrigine actions resemble those of phenytoin and carbamazepine, inhibiting voltage-sensitive sodium channels, stabilizing neuronal membranes, thereby modulating the release of presynaptic excitatory neurotransmitters.

Lamotrigine likely acts by inhibiting sodium currents by selective binding to the inactive sodium channel, suppressing the release of the excitatory amino acid, glutamate. The mechanism of action of lamotrigine in reducing anticonvulsant activity is likely the same in managing bipolar disorder. Studies on lamotrigine have identified its binding to sodium channels in a fashion similar to local anesthetics, which could explain the demonstrated clinical benefit of lamotrigine in some neuropathic pain states.

Lamotrigine displays binding properties to several different receptors. In laboratory binding assays, it demonstrates a weak inhibitory effect on the serotonin 5-HT3 receptor. Lamotrigine also weakly binds to Adenosine A1/A2 receptors, α1/α2/β adrenergic receptors, dopamine D1/D2 receptors, GABA A/B receptors, histamine H1 receptors, κ-opioid receptor (KOR), mACh receptors, and serotonin 5-HT2 receptors with an IC50>100 µM. Weak inhibitory effects were observed at sigma opioid receptors. An in vivo study revealed evidence that lamotrigine inhibits Cav2.3 (R-type) calcium currents, which may also contribute to its anticonvulsant effects.

Dosage & Administration:
Epilepsy-
Table-1: Escalation Regimen for Lamotrigine in Patients Older than 12 Years with Epilepsy

Weeks 1 & 2:
  • In patients not taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, Primidone, or Valproate: 25 mg every day
  • In patients taking Valproate: 25 mg every other day
  • In patients taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, or Primidone and not taking Valproate: 50 mg/day
Weeks 3 & 4:
  • In patients not taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, Primidone, or Valproate: 50 mg/day
  • In patients taking Valproate: 25 mg every day
  • In patients taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, or Primidone and not taking Valproate: 100 mg/day (in 2 divided doses)
Week 5 onward to maintenance:
  • In patients not taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, Primidone, or Valproate: Increase by 50 mg/day every 1 to 2 weeks
  • In patients taking Valproate: Increase by 25 to 50 mg/day every 1 to 2 weeks
  • In patients taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, or Primidone and not taking Valproate: Increase by 100 mg/day every 1 to 2 weeks 
usual maintenance dose:
  • In patients not taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, Primidone, or Valproate: 225 to 375 mg/day (in 2 divided doses)
  • In patients taking Valproate: 100 to 200 mg/day with Valproate alone 100 to 400 mg/day with valproate and other drugs that induce glucuronidation (in 1 or 2 divided doses)
  • In patients taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, or Primidone and not taking Valproate: 300 to 500 mg/day (in 2 divided doses)
Table-2: Escalation Regimen for Lamotrigine in Patients Aged 2 to 12 Years with Epilepsy

Weeks 1 & 2:
  • In patients not taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, Primidone, or Valproate: 0.3 mg/kg/day in 1 or 2 divided doses
  • In patients taking Valproate: 0.15 mg/kg/day in 1 or 2 divided doses
  • In patients taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, or Primidone and not taking Valproate: 0.6 mg/kg/day (in 2 divided doses)
Weeks 3 & 4:
  • In patients not taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, Primidone, or Valproate: 0.6 mg/kg/day (in 2 divided doses)
  • In patients taking Valproate: 0.3 mg/kg/day in 1 or 2 divided doses
  • In patients taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, or Primidone and not taking Valproate: 1.2 mg/kg/day (in 2 divided doses)
Week 5 onward to maintenance:
  • In patients not taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, Primidone, or Valproate: The dose should be increased every 1 to 2 weeks as follows-calculate 0.6 mg/kg/day
  • In patients taking Valproate: The dose should be increased every 1 to 2 weeks as follows-calculate 0.3 mg/kg/day
  • In patients taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, or Primidone and not taking Valproate: The dose should be increased every 1 to 2 weeks as follows-calculate 1.2 mg/kg/day
Usual maintenance dose:
  • In patients not taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, Primidone, or Valproate: 4.5 to 7.5 mg/kg/day (maximum 300 mg/day in 2 divided doses)
  • In patients taking Valproate: 1 to 3 mg/kg/day with Valproate alone 1 to 5 mg/kg/day (maximum 200 mg/day in 1 or 2 divided doses)
  • In patients taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital or Primidone and not taking Valproate: 5 to 15 mg/kg/day (maximum 400 mg/day in 2 divided doses)
Table-3: The Initial Weight-Based Dosing Guide for Patients Aged 2 to 12 Years Taking Valproate (Weeks 1 to 4) with Epilepsy

Weeks 1 & 2:
  • If the patient's weight is 6.7 kg to 14 kg: 2 mg every other day
  • If the patient's weight is 14.1 kg to 27 kg: 2 mg every day
  • If the patient's weight is 27.1 kg to 34 kg: 4 mg every day
  • If the patient's weight is 34.1 kg to 40 kg: 5 mg every day
Weeks 3 & 4:
  • If the patient's weight is 6.7 kg to 14 kg: 2 mg every day
  • If the patient's weight is 14.1 kg to 27 kg: 4 mg every day
  • If the patient's weight is 27.1 kg to 34 kg: 8 mg every day
  • If the patient's weight is 34.1 kg to 40 kg: 10 mg every day
Bipolar disorder-
Table-4: Escalation Regimen for Lamotrigine in Adults with Bipolar Disorder
Weeks 1 & 2:
  • In patients not taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, Primidone, or Valproate: 25 mg daily
  • In patients taking Valproate: 25 mg every other day
  • In patients taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, or Primidone and not taking Valproate: 50 mg daily
Weeks 3 & 4:
  • In patients not taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, Primidone, or Valproate: 50 mg daily
  • In patients taking Valproate: 25 mg daily
  • In patients taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, or Primidone and not taking Valproate: 100 mg daily (in divided doses)
Week 5:
  • In patients not taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, Primidone, or Valproate: 100 mg daily
  • In patients taking Valproate: 50 mg daily
  • In patients taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, or Primidone and not taking Valproate: 200 mg daily (in divided doses)
Week 6:
  • In patients not taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, Primidone, or Valproate: 200 mg daily
  • In patients taking Valproate: 100 mg daily
  • In patients taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, or Primidone and not taking Valproate: 300 mg daily (in divided doses)
Week 7:
  • In patients not taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, Primidone, or Valproate: 200 mg daily
  • In patients taking Valproate: 100 mg daily
  • In patients taking Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, or Primidone and not taking Valproate: up to 400 mg daily (in divided doses)
Interaction:
Lamotrigine interacts with Oral contraceptives, Atazanavir/ritonavir, Carbamazepine, Levetiracetam, Lithium, Lopinavir/ritonavir , Olanzapine, Phenobarbital/primidone , Phenytoin, Pregabalin etc.

Side Effects:
Common side effects of Lamotrigine include dizziness, tremor, headache, rash, blurred vision, fever, lack of coordination, abdominal pain, infections, sleepiness, back pain, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, insomnia, dry mouth, stuffy nose, sore throat.

Pregnancy & Lactation:
Pregnancy Category C. Lamotrigine is excreted in human milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from Lamotrigine, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

Precautions & Warnings:
Serious skin rashes, Blood Dyscrasias, Suicidal Behavior, Aseptic Meningitis can occur in both adult and pediatric populations.

Use in Special Populations:
Pediatric Use:
  • Epilepsy: The safety and effectiveness of Lamotrigine used as an adjunctive treatment for partial-onset seizures were not demonstrated in very young pediatric patients aged 1 to 24 months.
  • Bipolar Disorder: The safety and effectiveness of Lamotrigine for the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder were not established in pediatric patients aged 10 to 17 years.
Overdose:
Overdose has resulted in ataxia, nystagmus, seizures (including tonic-clonic seizures), decreased level of consciousness, coma, and intraventricular conduction delay.

Storage:
Store below 30°C. Protect from light and moisture. Keep out of the reach of children.

Post a Comment

if you have any doudts.please let me know