lacosamide
Brand names: Vimpat
Lacosamide is a medicine that can help control seizures. It is used to treat partial-onset seizures and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in people 4 years and older.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$2.19/unit
Generic Price
$0.11/unit
Generic Savings
95%
Generic Available
Yes (35 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Lacosamide is used to treat partial-onset seizures in patients 4 years of age and older.
Common side effects
Double vision, Headache, Dizziness
Key warnings
Lacosamide and other anti-seizure medicines may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions.
How It Works
Lacosamide is an anticonvulsant. It is thought to work by slowing down the electrical signals in the brain that cause seizures. This helps to reduce how often seizures happen.
How to Take It
If you are 17 years or older, the starting dose for partial-onset seizures is usually 100 mg twice a day. If you are taking it with other medicines, the starting dose is 50 mg twice a day. Your doctor may change your dose over time, but the highest dose is 200 mg twice a day. For children 4-17 years old, the dose is based on body weight.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Lacosamide may harm an unborn baby. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking lacosamide. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take anti-epileptic drugs like lacosamide.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.
Storage
Store lacosamide at room temperature, between 68°F to 77°F.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 23,690 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 35,350 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2007–2025.
Total Reports
35,350
Death-Related Reports
3,025
Hospitalization Reports
12,020
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SEIZURE | 6,507 |
| 2 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 3,936 |
| 3 | OFF LABEL USE | 3,757 |
| 4 | DIZZINESS | 1,612 |
| 5 | SOMNOLENCE | 1,404 |
| 6 | FATIGUE | 1,376 |
| 7 | FALL | 1,337 |
| 8 | EPILEPSY | 1,336 |
| 9 | STATUS EPILEPTICUS | 1,220 |
| 10 | OVERDOSE | 1,207 |
| 11 | GENERALISED TONIC-CLONIC SEIZURE | 1,123 |
| 12 | DEATH | 1,047 |
| 13 | HEADACHE | 1,028 |
| 14 | DRUG INTERACTION | 956 |
| 15 | CONVULSION | 937 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Lacosamide and other anti-seizure medicines may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions. Tell your doctor right away if you have any new or worsening symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, or unusual changes in mood or behavior. Lacosamide can also cause heart rhythm problems. Get an ECG before starting and during treatment.
Common Questions
Can I stop taking lacosamide suddenly?
What should I do if I feel dizzy while taking lacosamide?
Can lacosamide affect my heart?
Is it safe to take lacosamide with other medicines?
How often will I take lacosamide?
What if I have kidney problems?
What if I have liver problems?
Can children take lacosamide?
Will lacosamide cure my seizures?
Are there any reasons I should not take lacosamide?
What are the common side effects of lacosamide?
What drug class is lacosamide?
Is there a generic version of lacosamide?
Is lacosamide safe during pregnancy?
Has lacosamide been recalled?
Active Recalls
CGMP Deviations
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA
CGMP Deviations
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA
Related Medications in Anticonvulsant
Other drugs grouped near lacosamide — same-class peers and common alternatives.
brivaracetam
Briviact
Brivaracetam is a medicine used to treat partial-onset seizures.
Compare with lacosamide →
cannabidiol
Epidiolex
Epidiolex is a medicine that contains cannabidiol.
Compare with lacosamide →
carbamazepine
Tegretol
Carbamazepine is a medicine used to control seizures and treat nerve pain.
Compare with lacosamide →
cenobamate
Xcopri
Xcopri is a medicine used to treat partial-onset seizures in adults.
Compare with lacosamide →
clobazam
Onfi, Sympazan
Clobazam oral suspension is a medicine used with other medicines to treat seizures caused by Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Compare with lacosamide →
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What the FDA Data Shows for lacosamide
The FDA label for lacosamide (sold under brand names such as Vimpat) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Anticonvulsant class. Lacosamide is used to treat partial-onset seizures in patients 4 years of age and older. Official labeling lists 5 commonly reported side effects, including Double vision, Headache, Dizziness.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 23,690 voluntary reports. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.11 versus $2.19 for the brand — a 95% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 2 recall records on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: October 16, 2024
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages