lamotrigine
Brand names: Lamictal
Lamotrigine is a medicine that can treat seizures and bipolar disorder. It works by reducing irregular electrical activity in the brain.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$10.62/unit
Generic Price
$0.04/unit
Generic Savings
100%
Generic Available
Yes (31 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Lamotrigine can treat epilepsy in adults and children 2 years and older.
Common side effects
Dizziness, Headache, Double vision
Key warnings
Lamotrigine can cause a serious skin rash that may require you to go to the hospital.
How It Works
Lamotrigine affects how nerves in the brain send signals to each other. It is thought to work by decreasing the release of certain chemicals. This helps to stabilize electrical activity and prevent seizures or mood swings.
How to Take It
Take lamotrigine exactly as your doctor tells you. Your dose will depend on your age, condition, and other medicines you take. You may need to use a special starter kit to begin treatment. Do not stop taking lamotrigine suddenly, as this can cause seizures. Talk to your doctor before stopping.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Lamotrigine may cause harm to an unborn baby. There is a pregnancy registry for women who take lamotrigine during pregnancy. You can enroll by calling 1-888-233-2334.
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 lamotrigine tablets at room temperature, between 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C).
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 63,589 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 127,196 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2002–2025.
Total Reports
127,196
Death-Related Reports
10,680
Hospitalization Reports
38,667
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 9,923 |
| 2 | RASH | 8,408 |
| 3 | SEIZURE | 6,527 |
| 4 | NAUSEA | 6,149 |
| 5 | FATIGUE | 5,915 |
| 6 | OFF LABEL USE | 5,832 |
| 7 | DIZZINESS | 5,770 |
| 8 | HEADACHE | 5,563 |
| 9 | DEPRESSION | 4,954 |
| 10 | VOMITING | 4,544 |
| 11 | PYREXIA | 4,357 |
| 12 | SOMNOLENCE | 4,334 |
| 13 | ANXIETY | 4,321 |
| 14 | DRUG INTERACTION | 4,297 |
| 15 | TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS | 4,077 |
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
Lamotrigine can cause a serious skin rash that may require you to go to the hospital. This rash can be life-threatening. The risk is higher in children. Stop taking lamotrigine and see a doctor right away if you get a rash, fever, or swollen lymph nodes.
Known Drug Interactions
Coadministration of lamotrigine with OCT2 substrates with a narrow therapeutic index (e.g., dofetilide) is not recommended.
Mechanism: Lamotrigine can change how the body handles dofetilide, a drug that can be dangerous if levels are slightly off.
What to do: Using these two drugs together is not recommended.
tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, chlorpromazine, opiate analgesics, NSAIDs, lamotrigine and carbamazepine) should be performed with caution.
Mechanism: Taking lamotrigine with desmopressin can increase the risk of your body holding onto too much water and lowering your salt levels.
What to do: Your doctor should carefully monitor your blood work and symptoms while you are on both medications.
Valproate ↑ lamotrigine ? valproate Increased lamotrigine concentrations slightly more than 2-fold. There are conflicting study results regarding effect of lamotrigine on valproate concentrations: 1) a mean 25% decrease in valproate concentrations in healthy volunteers, 2) no change in valproate concentrations in controlled clinical trials in patients with epilepsy.
Mechanism: Valproate slows down the process your body uses to get rid of lamotrigine, which causes the amount of lamotrigine in your blood to more than double.
What to do: Your doctor will likely need to lower your lamotrigine dose to avoid side effects.
Carbamazepine and carbamazepine epoxide ↓ lamotrigine ? carbamazepine epoxide Addition of carbamazepine decreases lamotrigine concentration approximately 40%. May increase carbamazepine epoxide levels.
Mechanism: Carbamazepine makes your body break down lamotrigine faster, which lowers the amount of medicine in your system by about 40%.
What to do: Your doctor may need to increase your lamotrigine dose and watch for side effects from the carbamazepine.
Rifampin ↓ lamotrigine Decreased lamotrigine AUC approximately 40%. ( 7 , 12.3 ) Carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, primidone, and rifampin decrease lamotrigine concentrations by approximately 40%.
Mechanism: Rifampin causes your body to clear lamotrigine out of your system much faster than normal, lowering the drug levels in your blood.
What to do: Your doctor may need to increase your lamotrigine dose so that the medicine stays at a level that works for you.
Common Questions
Can I stop taking lamotrigine suddenly?
What should I do if I get a rash?
Does lamotrigine interact with birth control?
Can I drink alcohol while taking lamotrigine?
How long does it take for lamotrigine to start working?
Can lamotrigine cause weight gain?
Can lamotrigine cause hair loss?
Is it safe to breastfeed while taking lamotrigine?
Can lamotrigine affect my mood?
What do the titration kits do?
What are the common side effects of lamotrigine?
Does lamotrigine interact with other medications?
What drug class is lamotrigine?
Is there a generic version of lamotrigine?
Is lamotrigine safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Anticonvulsant
Other drugs grouped near lamotrigine — same-class peers and common alternatives.
brivaracetam
Briviact
Brivaracetam is a medicine used to treat partial-onset seizures.
Compare with lamotrigine →
cannabidiol
Epidiolex
Epidiolex is a medicine that contains cannabidiol.
Compare with lamotrigine →
carbamazepine
Tegretol
Carbamazepine is a medicine used to control seizures and treat nerve pain.
Compare with lamotrigine →
cenobamate
Xcopri
Xcopri is a medicine used to treat partial-onset seizures in adults.
Compare with lamotrigine →
clobazam
Onfi, Sympazan
Clobazam oral suspension is a medicine used with other medicines to treat seizures caused by Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Compare with lamotrigine →
Medication Guides
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Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for lamotrigine
The FDA label for lamotrigine (sold under brand names such as Lamictal) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Anticonvulsant class. Lamotrigine can treat epilepsy in adults and children 2 years and older. Official labeling lists 20 commonly reported side effects, including Dizziness, Headache, Double vision.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 63,589 voluntary reports. The database also lists 24 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.04 versus $10.62 for the brand — a 100% 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, 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 31, 2021
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