Treatment with Lamotrigine

The medication 

Lamotrigine was developed to treat epilepsy and can have a mood-stabilizing effect, but it may also be effective for nerve pain, migraine aura, and certain other types of headaches.

Effect

Lamotrigine works by stabilizing nerve cells.

Side effects

The most common side effects are skin rash, insomnia, drowsiness, and restlessness, but side effects occur in fewer than one in 10 patients and are less frequent when the dosage is increased slowly. 

Precautions

Lamotrigine should not be administered to patients with certain heart conditions. 

If you experience fainting or a skin rash while being treated with lamotrigine, you should consult a doctor and potentially have your heart examined.

If long-term treatment with Lamotrigine is required, i.e., more than 2 years, the risk of osteoporosis (brittle bones) may increase. In such cases, it should be determined whether an evaluation with a DEXA scan and supplementary treatment with calcium and vitamin D are necessary.

What dosage should you take

You start by taking 25 mg. After at least 14 days, the dose can be increased to 50 mg for a minimum of 14 days. Thereafter, you can increase the dose by 50 mg per week, divided between morning and evening, until you achieve the desired effect or experience bothersome side effects, up to a maximum of 400 mg per day.

If you need a higher dose, this must be done in consultation with your doctor.