{"ok":true,"entry":{"slug":"lamotrigine","kind":"medication","name":"lamotrigine","aliases":["Lamictal"],"brands_sg":["Lamictal","Lamotrix","Lamitor"],"class":"anticonvulsant / mood stabiliser","tags":["mental-health"],"use_for":"prescribed for epilepsy and for bipolar depression","use_after":"nhs: once or twice a day, with or without food","use_duration":null,"take_with":"water · nhs: swallowed whole, not chewed or crushed","pros":["nhs: can be used in pregnancy if needed","nhs: tablets and dispersible tablets both exist","nhs: breastfeeding is possible, with checks"],"cons":["nhs: headaches, rash, nausea, dizziness are common","nhs: rare serious skin reactions incl. stevens-johnson","nhs: the dose is raised slowly over several weeks"],"dose_note":"the us fda label for lamictal states, for bipolar disorder, that 'doses up to 400 mg/day as monotherapy were evaluated; however, no additional benefit was seen at 400 mg/day compared with 200 mg/day. Accordingly, doses above 200 mg/day are not recommended'. for adjunctive epilepsy therapy over age 12 the same label's usual maintenance ranges are '100 to 200 mg/day with valproate alone', '100 to 400 mg/day', '225 to 375 mg/day' and '300 to 500 mg/day' depending on the other medicines taken, and it warns that 'the recommended initial dose and subsequent dose escalations should not be exceeded' because of rash risk. sg-registered strengths are 5, 25, 50 and 100 mg tablets. in singapore the prescriber sets the dose.","dosage":null,"ul_status":null,"sg_class":"prescription-only","cautions":["liver or kidney problems (nhs, healthhub)","a past rash or reaction to lamotrigine (nhs)","brugada syndrome or other heart problems (nhs)","planning a pregnancy — healthhub: discuss family planning"],"clashes":[{"src":["nhs_lam_mix","fda_lamictal_epilepsy"],"note":"nhs lists epilepsy medicines among those that may not mix well; the fda label sets different maintenance ranges with them","with":"sodium valproate or carbamazepine"},{"src":["nhs_lam_mix"],"note":"nhs lists mental-health medicines such as risperidone among those that may not mix well","with":"risperidone"},{"src":["nhs_lam_mix"],"note":"nhs lists antibiotics such as rifampicin among those that may not mix well","with":"rifampicin"},{"src":["nhs_lam_mix"],"note":"nhs lists medicines used to treat hiv among those that may not mix well","with":"hiv medicines"},{"src":["nhs_lam_mix"],"note":"nhs: a different contraceptive type or method may be recommended instead","with":"combined hormonal contraceptives"}],"sources":[{"id":"hsa_register","url":"https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084/view","label":"HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg open dataset, 5,511 rows, cached in full and filtered locally)","quote":"All 10 registered lamotrigine products carry Forensicclassification 'Prescription Only' — SIN07497P LAMICTAL TABLET 50 mg · SIN14028P Lamotrix Tablet 100mg · SIN13365P Lamitor-50 · SIN13554P Apo-Lamotrigine 25mg; strengths 5, 25, 50 and 100 mg","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_lam_about","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/lamotrigine/","label":"NHS Medicines A-Z — Lamotrigine: what lamotrigine is for","quote":"Lamotrigine is a medicine used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder. It's only available with a prescription … seizures caused by epilepsy; low mood (depression) in people with bipolar disorder.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_lam_howto","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/lamotrigine/","label":"NHS Medicines A-Z — Lamotrigine: how to take lamotrigine","quote":"take it once or twice a day as advised by your doctor – it can be taken with or without food; swallow tablets whole with a glass of water … do not chew or crush them","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_lam_titration","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/lamotrigine/","label":"NHS Medicines A-Z — Lamotrigine: starting dose and titration","quote":"Your doctor may prescribe a low dose to start with and increase it over a few weeks until you reach a dose that works for you.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_lam_side","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/lamotrigine/","label":"NHS Medicines A-Z — Lamotrigine: common side effects","quote":"Common side effects of lamotrigine include: headaches; a rash; feeling sick (nausea) and being sick (vomiting); dizziness or drowsiness; dry mouth; diarrhoea; tiredness and problems sleeping; shaking or tremors","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_lam_serious","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/lamotrigine/","label":"NHS Medicines A-Z — Lamotrigine: serious side effects","quote":"Possible serious side effects of lamotrigine include: a skin reaction, such as a round, slightly raised rash (erythema multiforme), painful blisters (Stevens-Johnson syndrome), or peeling skin","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_lam_who","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/lamotrigine/","label":"NHS Medicines A-Z — Lamotrigine: who can and cannot take it","quote":"it may not be suitable if: you have a liver or kidney condition … you've had a rash or sunburn after taking lamotrigine in the past; you have a heart condition called Brugada syndrome, or other heart problems","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_lam_preg","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/lamotrigine/","label":"NHS Medicines A-Z — Lamotrigine: pregnancy and breastfeeding","quote":"Lamotrigine can be used during pregnancy if needed … Lamotrigine can be used while breastfeeding, but it's best to check because the medicine can pass into your breast milk.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_lam_mix","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/lamotrigine/","label":"NHS Medicines A-Z — Lamotrigine: taking it with other medicines","quote":"epilepsy medicines, such as sodium valproate and carbamazepine; medicines used to treat mental health problems, such as risperidone; antibiotics, such as rifampicin; medicines used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); hormonal contraceptives, such as the combined pill","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_lam_uses","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/lamotrigine","label":"HealthHub (National Medication Information workgroup, SG) — Lamotrigine: what is this medication for","quote":"Lamotrigine is used to control seizures (commonly known as fits) and as a mood stabilizer to reduce mood swings in a condition known as bipolar disorder.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_lam_precautions","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/lamotrigine","label":"HealthHub — Lamotrigine: precautions, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome warning","quote":"Liver problems; Kidney problems; Drug allergies. For female patients of child-bearing age: Discuss with your doctor regarding family planning … monitor closely for the first 3 months","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_lamictal_bipolar","url":"https://api.fda.gov/drug/label.json?search=openfda.brand_name.exact:%22LAMICTAL%22&limit=1","label":"US FDA label for LAMICTAL (lamotrigine), section 2.4 Bipolar Disorder, via openFDA (GlaxoSmithKline, effective 2025-10-10)","quote":"doses up to 400 mg/day as monotherapy were evaluated; however, no additional benefit was seen at 400 mg/day compared with 200 mg/day. Accordingly, doses above 200 mg/day are not recommended.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_lamictal_epilepsy","url":"https://api.fda.gov/drug/label.json?search=openfda.brand_name.exact:%22LAMICTAL%22&limit=1","label":"US FDA label for LAMICTAL (lamotrigine), Table 1 escalation regimen, patients older than 12 years, via openFDA","quote":"Usual maintenance dose 100 to 200 mg/day with valproate alone … 100 to 400 mg/day … 225 to 375 mg/day (in 2 divided doses) … 300 to 500 mg/day (in 2 divided doses)","accessed":"2026-08-27"}],"brand_certs":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-29T16:16:23.779398+08:00"},"disclaimer":"kozen-x is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. it lists what published sources have written down. absence of a record is not the same as safe."}