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 of the planet. And of course, pharmacological companies produce a lot of various medicines intended for the treatment of this disease. One of these drugs is Lamotrigine. Analogues of this medicine may cost more than him or cheaper, have the same active substance or other in the composition.

Form and Composition of Medication

A "Lamotrigine"( "Lamictal") drug 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 included in the drug are components such as:

• anhydrous silicon dioxide;
• magnesium stearate;
• Povidone;
• lactose monohydrate;
• MCC;
• sodium carboxymethyl starch.

"Lamotrigine": analogues are cheaper than

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

For example, the analogs

• "Topiramate" can be used instead of "Lamotrigine".
• "Seizar".
• "Levetiracetam."

Topiramate Medication

This drug is also marketed 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."

Preparation "Seizar"

This medicine costs 250 to 500 rubles in pharmacies. But in some cities "Seizar" is sold even at a higher price than "Lamotrigine".Patients wishing to purchase 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."

Preparation "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 drug is applied to the group of antiepileptic drugs.

How the medicine works on the patient's body

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

To begin with, let us 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).

The features of this drug, among other things, include the following:

• its rate of action slows down with a full stomach, the effectiveness of the action of food at the same time does not have any negative effect;
• absorbs the drug quickly and completely directly from the digestive tract;
• the active substance of the drug circulates through the vessels in a protein-related form.

The drug "Lamotrigine" is metabolized in the liver. In this case it is excreted 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 with:

• partial and generalized seizures;
• monotherapy of typical absences.

Lamotrigine tablets can also be used in some cases as a prophylactic against mood disorders. These include, for example, depression, bipolar or anxiety disorder, etc. That is, in fact, this 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 for

? It is unfortunately quite possible to prescribe this rather effective medicine, not all patients can. Contraindications drug "lamotrigine" has the following:

• sensitivity to any components of the drug;
• pregnancy and lactation.

Do not administer this medication to children under 2 years of age. 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 the use of the medicine

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 the drug 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 with epilepsy should also take this medicine twice a day. The maximum daily dose for such patients is 400 mg.

Special instructions

This is what exists for the drug "Lamotrigine" instructions for use. However, when it is prescribed to patients, doctors should also take into account 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 must carefully monitor 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 may cause the drug

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 have the following problems:

• increased fatigue and headache;
• aggressiveness or anxiety;
• rash;
• confusion;
• blurred vision;
• disturbance of the vestibular apparatus;
• nausea, vomiting.

Allergic reactions to this medication may occur in patients with epilepsy.

Rash in patients with

This side effect is the most common cause in epileptic patients with Lamotrigine. There is a rash on the skin in patients usually in the first 8 weeks of taking the medication. In this case, the simultaneous use of Valproate( or preparations with the same active substance) can increase the risk of such a side effect.

If the skin rashes on the patient's body are not too strong, the medication "Lamotrigine" is not allowed 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

This medicine should be taken only in full compliance with the physician's recommendations. 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 preferably be hospitalized. A patient who has taken too much "Lamotrigine" is washed with a stomach and is usually prescribed to use activated carbon to remove toxins from the body.

Reviews about

The opinion about this drug 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.

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 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 always consult your doctor.

How to store

The expiration date of the Lamotrigine remedy 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 temperature of storage 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.