Lamictal interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

In some cases, factors or conditions could prevent your doctor from prescribing Lamictal due to the risk of harm. These are known as contraindications. One contraindication of Lamictal is:

Having had an allergic reaction to Lamictal or any of its ingredients

If you have had an allergic reaction to Lamictal or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Lamictal. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

Note: Before you start treatment with Lamictal, it’s important to tell your doctor if this contraindication applies to you. They can determine whether to prescribe Lamictal.

There are no known interactions between Lamictal and alcohol.

However, drinking alcohol while taking Lamictal can lead to rare cases of alcohol intolerance. With this condition, your digestive system is unable to break down alcohol as it typically would. This may lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or other digestive symptoms. Other symptoms of alcohol intolerance include hives, runny or stuffy nose, and facial discoloration.

If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Lamictal, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can recommend whether to limit the amount of alcohol you drink during Lamictal treatment.

Before you start treatment with Lamictal, tell your doctor and pharmacist which prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Lamictal interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Lamictal and other interactions” section below.)

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Here’s a table of drugs that can interact with Lamictal. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Lamictal. Some of these interactions are described in detail just below in “Drug interactions in depth.”

Here’s a closer look at certain drug interactions of Lamictal.

Dofetilide

Dofetilide (Tikosyn) is prescribed to treat an irregular heart rhythm.

Interaction result. Taking Lamictal with dofetilide can increase the risk of side effects from dofetilide.

Interaction explained. Lamictal slows the breakdown of dofetilide in your system. Taking Lamictal with dofetilide can increase the amount of dofetilide in your body. This raises your risk of side effects from dofetilide.

Steps you or your doctor may take. Before taking Lamictal, tell your doctor if you take dofetilide. They can recommend whether it’s safe to take these medications together.

Metformin

Metformin (Fortamet, Glumetza) is prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes.

Interaction result. Taking Lamictal with metformin can increase the risk of side effects from metformin.

Interaction explained. Lamictal slows the breakdown of metformin in your body. As a result, taking Lamictal with metformin can raise the level of metformin in your body. This may increase your risk of side effects from metformin.

Steps you or your doctor may take. Before starting Lamictal treatment, tell your doctor if you take metformin. They can advise you on whether it’s safe to take these medications together.

Certain birth control pills

Birth control pills are taken to help prevent pregnancy.

Interaction result. Taking Lamictal with certain birth control pills can make Lamictal and the birth control pills less effective. This includes birth control pills that contain hormones called ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel.

Interaction explained. Taking Lamictal with certain birth control pills may lower the level of Lamictal and the birth control hormones in your system. As a result, the levels of these medications in your system may be too low to work as they should.

Examples of birth control pills. The birth control pills that may interact with Lamictal include the brand-name drugs Seasonique, Seasonale, and others.

Steps you or your doctor may take. If you’re able to become pregnant and are sexually active, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs during Lamictal treatment.

If your doctor advises you to use birth control, they can recommend forms of birth control that do not contain ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel. These are less likely to interact with Lamictal. Examples include other birth control pills such as norethindrone (Camila, Erinn, others).

Lamictal may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. You’ll find details below. Keep in mind that the following information does not include all other possible interactions with Lamictal.

Lamictal and supplements

It’s possible for drugs to interact with supplements such as vitamins and herbs.

Lamictal and herbs

There are no specific reports of herbs interacting with Lamictal, Lamictal XR, Lamictal ODT, or Lamictal CD. However, that doesn’t mean herbal interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products during Lamictal treatment.

Lamictal and vitamins

There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Lamictal, Lamictal XR, Lamictal ODT, or Lamictal CD. However, that doesn’t mean vitamin interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin product with Lamictal.

Lamictal and food

There were no reports of food interactions with Lamictal, Lamictal XR, Lamictal ODT, or Lamictal CD. If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods during treatment with Lamictal, talk with your doctor.

Lamictal and vaccines

There are no specific reports of vaccines interacting with Lamictal, Lamictal XR, Lamictal ODT, or Lamictal CD. To learn more about getting specific vaccines while taking Lamictal, talk with your doctor.

Lamictal interactions with lab tests

Lamictal may interact with certain lab tests. Specifically, taking the drug may cause a false-positive result on a urine drug test that checks for phencyclidine (PCP).

A false-positive result happens when a test shows a positive result for a substance that is not present. In this case, the urine drug test shows a positive result for PCP even though Lamictal does not contain PCP.

Before having a urine drug test for PCP, be sure the person giving you the test knows you’re taking Lamictal. They may give you a different type of drug test that is not affected by Lamictal.

To learn more about getting certain lab tests while taking Lamictal, talk with your doctor.

LAMICTAL INTERACTION WITH CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), may interact with Lamictal. Research has shown that taking Lamictal while using cannabis products may increase the risk of side effects from Lamictal. More research is needed to determine whether an interaction exists with cannabis.

Before you start treatment with Lamictal, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you use cannabis. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many U.S. states to varying degrees.

Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Lamictal. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Lamictal may not be the right treatment option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Health conditions or factors that might interact with Lamictal include:

• Depression or other mood problems. In rare cases, taking Lamictal can lead to suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Your risk may be increased if you have depression or another mood disorder. Your doctor can help determine whether Lamictal is a safe treatment option for you.
• Heart problems. Before taking Lamictal, tell your doctor if you have a heart problem such as heart failure or an irregular heart rhythm. Lamictal may cause heart problems as a side effect, which can worsen any heart problem you already have. Your doctor can help determine whether Lamictal is right for you.
• Kidney or liver problems. If you have a kidney or liver problem, such as kidney failure or liver failure, talk with your doctor. Your body may not be able to get rid of Lamictal as well as it should. This can cause the drug to build up in your system, which may raise your risk of side effects from Lamictal. To reduce this risk, your doctor may prescribe a lower dosage of Lamictal. To learn more about Lamictal’s dosage, see this article.
• Pregnancy. It’s not known for certain whether Lamictal is safe to take while pregnant. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before taking Lamictal.
• Breastfeeding. Lamictal passes into breast milk during breastfeeding, which can cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking Lamictal.
• Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Lamictal or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Lamictal. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

Here are some frequently asked questions about Lamictal and possible interactions.

Can I take an antidepressant with Lamictal?

Yes, if your doctor advises it. Lamictal isn’t known to interact with antidepressants. It should be safe to take these medications together.

Your doctor can recommend whether your condition may be treated with Lamictal and an antidepressant. If so, they can recommend the best antidepressant to take with Lamictal.

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Lamictal. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reach out to them before starting treatment. For example, you should plan to do the following:

• Let them know if you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
• Tell them about any other medications you take, as well as any supplements, herbs, and vitamins.
• Create a medication list, which your doctor and pharmacist can help you fill out.

It’s also important to read the Lamictal label and other paperwork that may come with the drug. The label may have colored stickers that mention an interaction. And the paperwork, sometimes called the medication guide or patient package insert, may contain details about interactions.

If Lamictal doesn’t come with paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy. If you need help reading or understanding this information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

You can also help prevent interactions with Lamictal by taking it exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Besides learning about interactions, you may want to find out more about Lamictal. These resources might help:

• Overview of Lamictal. For a general overview of Lamictal, you can see this article.
• Side effects. If you’re interested in the side effects of Lamictal, see this article. Another option is to refer to the Lamictal prescribing information for Lamictal, Lamictal XR, Lamictal ODT, or Lamictal CD.
• Dosage specifics. To learn about the dosage of Lamictal, see this article.
• Facts about your condition. To learn more about bipolar disorder, see our bipolar disorder hub. For details about epilepsy, see our epilepsy and seizures hub.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.