Can Lamictal for bipolar cause seizures?

Lamotrigine is commonly used as a maintenance treatment for patients with bipolar disorder to help manage depression and mood episodes of mania and hypomania. Patients who abruptly stop taking lamotrigine before talking to their physician can suffer seizures, as well as new or worsening mental health issues.

What happens when you stop taking lamotrigine for bipolar?

If you’re taking lamotrigine for epilepsy, stopping it suddenly can cause seizures. Coming off lamotrigine should be done very slowly and might take a few months. If you’re taking lamotrigine for bipolar disorder, it’s usually safe to stop taking it without having to reduce your dose first.

Can Lamictal cause seizures?

Do not stop taking your lamotrigine medicine without first taking to your health care professional. Stopping it suddenly can potentially cause uncontrolled seizures, or new or worsening mental health problems. Symptoms of HLH have been reported to occur within 8 to 24 days after the first dose is taken.

What happens if I stop taking lamotrigine?

If you suddenly stop taking lamotrigine, you may experience seizures. If you do stop taking lamotrigine for any reason, do not start taking it again without talking to your doctor.

What happens when you discontinue Lamictal for bipolar?

Symptoms. Clinical trials show that sudden Lamictal discontinuation may cause seizures, especially in patients with epilepsy, but seizures were extremely rare among people taking Lamictal for bipolar disorder—only two patients with bipolar disorder experienced seizures following abrupt discontinuation of the drug.

Are there any adverse reactions to Lamictal withdrawal?

Bipolar Disorder: In the controlled clinical trials, there was no increase in the incidence, type, or severity of adverse reactions following abrupt termination of LAMICTAL. In the clinical development program in adults with bipolar disorder, 2 patients experienced seizures shortly after abrupt withdrawal of LAMICTAL.

What kind of medication is Lamictal used for?

Lamictal is a medication prescribed as an anticonvulsant to treat epilepsy and as a mood stabilizer used to treat bipolar disorder. It’s the brand name for the generic prescription drug lamotrigine. It’s very important to follow you doctor’s dosing instructions when taking Lamictal.

How is Lamictal different from other seizure medicines?

Many other seizure medicines affect the way the body uses Lamictal, so the amount of each medicine that the person takes may need to be adjusted. Some other studies have compared Lamictal with other seizure medicines when they are used alone, to see which medicine is best for people who have just begun treatment for epilepsy.