Lamotrigine: analogues, instructions for use, indications, reviews

Epilepsy is one of the most common diseases of the nervous system. Its main manifestation is short-term rarely occurring seizures. Epilepsy is diagnosed today for every hundredth person in the world. And of course, the pharmacological companies produce a lot of various medicines intended for the treatment of this disease. One such drug is Lamotrigine. Analogues of this medicine can cost more expensive or cheaper, have the same active substance or other in the composition.

Form release and composition of the medicine

The drug "Lamotrigine" ("Lamictal") is supplied to pharmacies in tablets. One package can contain 10 or 30 pieces. Sometimes on sale it is possible to meet this preparation and in the form of a powder. The main active substance in this medicine is lamotrigine.

Also the composition of the medicine includes such components as:

• Anhydrous silicon dioxide;
• Magnesium stearate;
• Povidone;
• Lactose monohydrate;
• MCC;
• Sodium carboxymethyl starch.

Lamotrigine: analogues cheaper

It costs this medicine in pharmacies approximately 600-700 rubles for a package of 30 tablets. This of course, quite expensive. Therefore, many patients use instead of this remedy its cheaper substitutes.

For example, can be used in place of the drug "Lamotrigine" analogues:

• Topiramate.
• "Seizar".
• "Levetiracetam."

The medicine Topiramat

This drug is delivered to the market also usually in tablet form. 30 tablets of this product depending on the supplier can cost about 200-400 rubles. In some pharmacies this drug is sold for 150-160 rubles. The main active substance in this medicine is topiramate. His testimony is the same as that of "Lamotrigine."

The preparation "Seizar"

This drug costs in pharmacies from 250 to 500 rubles. But in some cities "Seizar" is sold even at a higher price than "Lamotrigine". Patients who want to buy a drug cheaper, should ask about its cost in several pharmacies.

The main active substance of this drug is lamotrigine. That is, in fact, this tool refers to the synonyms of "Lamotrigine."

The drug "Levetiracetam"

This drug is usually sold at a price of 300-500 rubles for 30 tablets. The main active ingredient is levetiracetam. Like all the analogues considered above, this medicine is applied to the group of antiepileptic drugs.

How the medicine works on the patient's body

So, what are the analogues of the drug "Lamotrigine", we found out. Further we will consider in more detail what, in fact, is this medicine itself and how it should be taken.

For a start, let's get acquainted with what kind of medicine "Lamotrigine" mechanism of action. Getting into the patient's body, the active substance of this drug stabilizes the neuronal membranes and suppresses the pathological release of glutamic acid (due to the excess of which, in fact, epileptic seizures occur).

Among the features of this drug, among other things, you can relate the following points:

• The speed of its action slows down with a full stomach, the effectiveness of the action of food intake, however, does not have any negative effect;
• Absorbs the drug quickly and completely directly from the digestive tract;
• The active substance of the preparation circulates through the vessels in a protein-related form.

The drug "Lamotrigine" is metabolized in the liver. It is excreted in this case mainly with the kidneys. That is why patients who have problems with these organs, the drug should be administered cautiously.

Indications for use

What is the purpose of "lamotrigine"? Doctors prescribe this drug usually when:

• Partial and generalized seizures;
• Monotherapy of typical absences.

Also, "Lamotrigine" tablets can in some cases be used as a preventive against mood disorders. These include, for example, depression, bipolar or anxiety disorder, etc. That is, in fact, the medicine can be attributed, among other things, to the group of psychotropic ones. And this means that it should be taken cautiously.

What are the contraindications?

To write out this fairly effective medicine, unfortunately, can not be all patients. Contraindications drug "Lamotrigine" has the following:

• Sensitivity to any components of the drug;
• Pregnancy and lactation.

You can not prescribe this drug for children under 2 years. Pregnant and lactating women, this drug is not prescribed primarily because its effect on the body of such patients has not been fully studied.

Lamotrigine: instructions for use

The dose of this drug is selected for the patient by the doctor individually. Adults usually have 25 to 200 mg of this medication. Take this pill doctors recommend patients twice a day. The maximum daily dose of Lamotrigine is 700 mg. Begin receiving funds usually with a minimum dose. Further, the amount of the used preparation is gradually increased.

For children from 2 to 12 years old, this medicine can be prescribed by doctors for 2-15 mg / kg per day. Small patients suffering from epilepsy should also take this medication twice a day. The maximum daily dose for such patients is 400 mg.

special instructions

Here is the instruction for use for Lamotrigine. However, when it is prescribed to patients, doctors should take into account also special instructions.

Unlike some of its analogues, the drug "Lamotrigine" can be prescribed to patients, as already mentioned, with liver failure. However, in this case the doctor should carefully observe the patient. Doses of the drug itself should be reduced by approximately 50-75%, depending on the severity of the liver damage.

It is impossible to abolish this drug sharply to patients of any age group. This can provoke seizures up to epileptic status. The withdrawal of this drug is smooth, reducing the dose within two weeks.

"Lamotrigine" and alcohol are incompatible things. Drinking alcohol during the course of treatment with this drug can not. Alcohol can significantly enhance the effect of this drug, which in some cases can be dangerous. The patient may easily show signs of an overdose.

What side effects can medication cause

Of course, take the drug "Lamotrigine" should only be prescribed by a doctor. The fact is that this medicine can cause many side effects, sometimes even quite dangerous for the health and life of the patient. For example, after taking Lamotrigine, patients may experience the following problems:

• Increased fatigue and headache;
• Aggression or anxiety;
• rash;
• Confusion;
• Blurred vision;
• Disturbance of the vestibular apparatus;
• nausea, vomiting.

May occur in patients with epilepsy and allergic reactions to this drug.

Rash in patients

It is this side effect that causes the drug "Lamotrigine" in patients with epilepsy most often. There is a rash on the skin in patients usually in the first 8 weeks of taking the medication. At the same time, the simultaneous use of Valproate (or drugs with the same active substance) can increase the risk of such a side effect.

If skin rashes on the patient's body are observed not too strong, the medication "Lamotrigine" is allowed not to stop. In most cases, urticaria disappears spontaneously after several weeks of treatment. However, with strong rashes, the drug "Lamotrigine" doctors usually cancel. In this case, another medication is chosen for the treatment of epilepsy.

Overdose of the drug

Take this medicine only in full accordance with the recommendations of the doctor. In no case should it be exceeded in the treatment of "Lamotrigine" dosage. Otherwise, the patient may exhibit such unpleasant symptoms as:

• dizziness;
• Drowsiness and vomiting;
• coma.

At the first signs of an overdose, the patient should be hospitalized. The patient who has taken too much "Lamotrigine" is washed with the stomach and is prescribed the most often reception of activated carbon to remove toxins from the body.

Reviews about the drug

The opinion about this medicine in patients with epilepsy has developed quite well. To the absolute advantages of this remedy, patients primarily relate to its effectiveness. Epileptic seizures are stopped, these pills, according to many patients, are quite effective.

It is considered an advantage of "Lamotrigine" and the fact that it is quite rare to have negative side effects on the patient's body. Good deserved drug "lamotrigine" reviews from people suffering from epilepsy, and for its convenient form of release. In water, these tablets dissolve very quickly and without residue. In addition, this drug is pretty nice smells (currants). The taste of this medicine is not too good. But it is still relatively easy to drink.

The main drawback of this medication is that many patients consider it to be quite a high cost. Also, the disadvantages of drugs are that it can not be taken by patients who do not tolerate lactose. To some patients this remedy, unfortunately, does not fit. In certain cases, it may not even help, but, on the contrary, cause seizures. That is why, before you start taking medicine "Lamotrigine", you should definitely consult with your doctor.

How to store correctly

The expiration date of the "Lamotrigine" funds is 3 years from the date of issue. Store this medicine only in a dark place. At home, you can put it, for example, just in the first aid kit. The storage temperature of the drug should not exceed 25 ° C. Therefore, in summer, in hot weather, the drug should be transferred to the refrigerator on the lower shelf.