Lamictal side effects: What you should know

Lamictal can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took the drug in clinical trials for Lamictal and Lamictal XR:

• nausea and vomiting
• runny nose
• mild skin rash
• sleep problems*
• vision problems*

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Mild side effects can occur with Lamictal use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to the prescribing information for Lamictal and Lamictal XR.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Lamictal include:

• abdominal pain
• back pain
• dizziness
• dry mouth
• fatigue
• headache
• inflammation inside the nose
• lack of muscle coordination
• nausea and vomiting
• sore throat
• tremors
• mild skin rash
• weight gain or weight loss*
• sleep problems*
• vision problems*
• mild allergic reaction†

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Lamictal and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after taking Lamictal. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Lamictal may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to the prescribing information for Lamictal and Lamictal XR.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Lamictal, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

• Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (a life threatening immune system reaction). Symptoms can include:
  • fever
  • swollen lymph nodes
  • skin rash
• Status epilepticus (prolonged seizure). Symptoms can include:
  • new or worsening seizures
  • seizure that lasts longer than 5 minutes
  • multiple seizures that occur one after another
• Changes in heart rate or rhythm. Symptoms can include:
  • dizziness
  • heart palpitations
  • shortness of breath
• Suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Symptoms can include:
  • mood changes, such as feeling more anxious, agitated, or hopeless than usual
  • behavior changes, such as taking more risks than usual
  • thoughts of taking your life or harming yourself
• Aseptic meningitis (inflammation of the protective layer around your spinal cord and brain). Symptoms can include:
  • headache
  • fatigue
  • fever
  • excessive sleepiness
• Low levels of white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets. These conditions don’t typically cause symptoms but can be detected with a blood test.
• Withdrawal seizures. These are new or worsening seizures that may occur if you stop taking Lamictal too quickly.
• Risk of serious skin rash.*
• Severe allergic reaction.†

* Lamictal and Lamictal XR have a boxed warning for this side effect. This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after taking Lamictal. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Lamictal is approved to treat specific types of seizures in certain children with epilepsy.

Many of Lamictal’s side effects in children are expected to be the same as in adults. However, certain side effects may be more common in children than in adults. A few examples include accidental injury, fever, and diarrhea.

For more information about Lamictal’s side effects in children, talk with your child’s doctor or pharmacist.

Lamictal may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

Does Lamictal cause long-term side effects?

Yes, in rare cases, Lamictal may cause side effects that lead to long-term complications. These side effects may start during Lamictal treatment and continue even after treatment ends.

Below are examples of side effects of Lamictal that may lead to long-term complications:

• hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (a life threatening immune system reaction )
• aseptic meningitis (inflammation of the protective layer around your spinal cord and brain)
• serious skin rash*

If you have questions about how long Lamictal’s side effects could last, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* Lamictal and Lamictal XR have a boxed warning for the risk of this side effect. This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Is anger a side effect of Lamictal?

Yes, although it’s rare. Irritability was a rare side effect in clinical trials of Lamictal and Lamictal XR. With irritability, you may feel angry, annoyed, or agitated.

Keep in mind that anger can also occur with mood changes related to suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This is another rare but serious side effect of Lamictal.

If you have concerns about anger while taking Lamictal, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can talk with you about your risk of this side effect and recommend what to do if you experience it.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Lamictal may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Lamictal and Lamictal XR.

Serious skin rash

Lamictal has a boxed warning about the risk of serious skin rash. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It lets doctors and patients know about a drug’s effects that may be dangerous.

Taking Lamictal may cause a serious skin rash. Although rare, this rash can be life threatening. The risk of serious skin rash may be greater in children than in adults. (Lamictal is approved to treat specific types of seizures in certain children with epilepsy.)

A serious skin rash with Lamictal is more likely to occur within 2 to 8 weeks after starting treatment. However, it can happen at any time during treatment.

Certain factors may increase your risk of skin rash with Lamictal. These include:

• taking a higher dosage of Lamictal than prescribed
• increasing your Lamictal dosage faster than what is recommended
• taking Lamictal with certain other antiepileptics, including valproic acid, valproate, or divalproex sodium (Depakote, Depakote ER)

Symptoms of a serious skin rash may include blisters, peeling skin, and fever.

What you can do

If you have symptoms of serious skin rash with Lamictal, tell your doctor right away. They’ll likely advise you to stop Lamictal treatment. Your doctor will also advise you on whether treatments are necessary for this rash.

Weight gain or weight loss

Taking Lamictal may lead to weight gain or weight loss. Although rare, weight loss was slightly more common than weight gain in clinical trials for Lamictal. Weight loss was also rarely reported in clinical trials for Lamictal XR, while weight gain wasn’t reported.

What you can do

If you’re concerned about a change in your weight while taking Lamictal, talk with your doctor. They can suggest ways to maintain a weight that’s healthy for you.

Sleep problems

Sleep problems were among the more common side effects in clinical trials for Lamictal and Lamictal XR. With sleep problems, you may have excessive sleepiness or insomnia.

What you can do

If you experience sleep problems during Lamictal treatment, talk with your doctor. They can suggest ways to manage sleep problems while taking Lamictal. For example, your doctor can help you create a routine to maintain a regular sleep schedule. You can also see these articles about tips for managing daytime sleepiness or insomnia.

Vision problems

Vision problems were a common side effect reported in clinical trials for Lamictal and Lamictal XR. With vision problems, you may have double vision or blurred vision.

What you can do

Due to the risk of vision problems, it may be safest to avoid driving until you know how Lamictal affects you. You may need to take several doses of the drug before you know whether vision problems may occur.

If you have vision problems during Lamictal treatment, talk with your doctor. They may refer you to an eye doctor to help monitor your vision. Your doctor may also prescribe a lower dosage of Lamictal to help reduce this risk. For details about Lamictal’s dosage, see this article.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Lamictal can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Mild allergic reactions were common in clinical trials of Lamictal but not Lamictal XR. In both drugs, serious allergic reactions were rare.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

• skin rash
• itching
• flushing
• swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
• swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Lamictal. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Keep reading to learn more about precautions for Lamictal.

Boxed warning: Serious skin rash

This drug has a boxed warning for the risk of serious skin rash. This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Side effect specifics” section above.

Other precautions

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Lamictal. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Kidney or liver problems. Before taking Lamictal, tell your doctor if you have a kidney or liver problem, such as kidney failure or liver failure. Having a kidney or liver problem can cause Lamictal to build up in your system. This could lead to high levels of Lamictal in your body, increasing your risk of side effects from the drug.

To reduce this risk, your doctor may prescribe a lower dosage of Lamictal if you have a kidney or liver problem. For details about Lamictal’s dosage, see this article.

Depression or other mood disorders. Taking Lamictal may increase your risk of having suicidal thoughts or behaviors. This risk may be higher for people who already have depression or other mood disorder.

Before taking Lamictal, tell your doctor if you have a condition that affects your mood. They can tell you whether Lamictal is a safe treatment option.

Heart conditions. Before taking Lamictal, tell your doctor if you have any heart conditions. Examples include having an irregular heart rhythm or heart failure. Lamictal may cause changes in heart rate or rhythm that could be life threatening for people who already have certain conditions.

If you have a heart condition, talk with your doctor. They can tell you whether Lamictal is a safe treatment option.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Lamictal or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Lamictal. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

Alcohol with Lamictal

There are no known interactions between Lamictal and alcohol.

However, drinking alcohol during Lamictal treatment may lead to rare cases of alcohol intolerance. With this condition, your digestive system cannot break down alcohol as it usually would. This may lead to digestive symptoms including diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Other symptoms of alcohol intolerance include facial discoloration, hives, and stuffy or runny nose.

If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Lamictal, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Lamictal

Below is important information about taking Lamictal during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Pregnancy

It’s not known for certain whether Lamictal is safe to take during pregnancy. Lamictal and Lamictal XR have not been reported to cause harm to fetuses or people during pregnancy.

However, animal studies of Lamictal and Lamictal XR have shown harm to the offspring of animals given the drug during pregnancy. Keep in mind that animal studies may not predict what happens with humans.

If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before taking Lamictal. They’ll advise you on the risks and benefits of taking the drug during pregnancy.

If you do take Lamictal while pregnant, consider enrolling in a pregnancy registry. These registries help collect important information about the safety of certain medications when they’re taken during pregnancy.

To learn more about the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry, visit the registry website or call 888-233-2334. You can also talk with your doctor.

Breastfeeding

It’s not known whether Lamictal is safe to take while breastfeeding. The drug can pass into breast milk, which could cause side effects in a child who’s breastfed.

If you breastfeed while taking Lamictal, monitor your child for extreme sleepiness, trouble breathing, and difficulty feeding or sucking. These could be side effects of Lamictal.

If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before taking Lamictal. They can discuss the risks and benefits of taking the drug while breastfeeding.

Lamictal may cause side effects that are mild or serious. If you have bothersome side effects during Lamictal treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you’d like to learn more about Lamictal, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

• More about Lamictal (lamotrigine). For information about other aspects of lamotrigine, the generic form of Lamictal, refer to this article.
• Dosage. For information about the dosage of Lamictal, view this article.
• Details about your condition. For details about epilepsy, see our epilepsy and seizures hub. For details about bipolar disorder, see our bipolar disorder 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.