Lamogine

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Generic Name: Lamotrigine
Product Name: Lamogine

Indication of Lamogine
Action of Lamogine
Dose advice of Lamogine
Schedule of Lamogine
Common side effects of Lamogine
Uncommon side effects of Lamogine

Indication of Lamogine:

Lamogine is used for the treatment of epilepsy in adults and children. Lamogine belongs to a group of medicines called "anti-epileptic drugs". Usually Lamogine is used initially in addition to other medicines for the treatment of epilepsy. Lamogine is used in partial (seizures that affect only one part of the brain) or generalised seizures (seizures that affect the whole brain) including Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (a severe form of epilepsy characterised by several seizure types). Your doctor may have prescribed Lamogine for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why it has been prescribed for you.

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Action of Lamogine:

The precise mechanism of the action of Lamogine (Lamotrigine) is not certain. The results of studies show that Lamogine (Lamotrigine) can block sodium channels and reduce the release of glutamate (an excitatory messenger associated with epilepsy). It is possible that these effects limit the seizures.

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Dose advice of Lamogine:

Your doctor will decide what dose and how long you will receive lamogine . Take your tablets as directed by your doctor. Never change the dose yourself. Do not increase the dose more quickly than you have been told. Your doctor will be able to tell you:

how many tablets to take at each dose.
how many doses to take each day.
when to take each of your doses.

The label on the container that the tablets were supplied in will give the same information. If there is something that you do not understand ask either your doctor. It is usual for the dose to start at quite a low level and be slowly increased during the first few weeks of treatment. The dose your doctor prescribes will generally depend on any other anti-epileptic medications you are taking for the treatment of epilepsy and your response to Lamogine (Lamotrigine).Hormonal contraceptives: If you start or stop taking hormonal contraceptives (e.g. Oral contraceptive pill) while taking Lamogine (Lamotrigine) your doctor may need to adjust the dose of Lamogine (Lamotrigine) depending on how well your condition is being treated.

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Schedule of Lamogine:

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Common side effects of Lamogine:

The following occur in <5% of patients being treated with Lamotrigine (mostly seen in monotherapy)

blurred vision
dizziness
ataxia
headache
somnolence
nausea
vomiting
rash

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Uncommon side effects of Lamogine:

These side effects occur in < 0.1% of the patients

multi-organ hypersensitivity syndrome (eg fever,rash, swelling, abnormalities of blood and liver)
neutropenia
thrombocytopenia
Severe, potentially life threatening rashes have been reported in association with the use of Lamogine (Lamotrigine), particularly in children. Accordingly, Lamogine (Lamotrigine) should be discontinued at the first sign of rash unless the rash is clearly not drug related.

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Reference:

Australian Medicines Handbook. [online]. Lamotrigine. January, 2007. Available at URL: http://www.amh.net.au (last accessed 15/08/07).
MIMS Australia. [online]. Lamogine. 2007. Available at URL: http://www.mims.com.au (last accessed 15/08/07).

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