Lamictal (lah-MIK-tal) is the brand name used in the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, and other countries for the seizure medicine lamotrigine (lah-MO-trih-jeen).

Forms
Lamictal is sold in the United States by GlaxoSmithKline. The name or appearance may be different in various countries but usually the dose (measured in milligrams, abbreviated "mg") will be the same. These descriptions apply to the U.S. versions:

Regular tablets

	25-mg (white, scored, shield-shaped) Tablets marked "LAMICTAL" and "25"
	100-mg (peach-colored, scored, shield-shaped) Tablets marked "LAMICTAL" and "100"
	150-mg (cream-colored, scored, shield-shaped) Tablets marked "LAMICTAL" and "150"
	200-mg (blue, scored, shield-shaped) Tablets marked "LAMICTAL" and "200"

Chewable Dispersible Tablets
All Lamictal tablets of this kind are small and white, but they have different shapes and markings:

	2-mg (white to off-white, round) Tablets marked with "LTG 2"
	5-mg (white to off-white, caplet-shaped) Tablets marked with "GX CL2"
	25-mg (white, rounded-square-shaped) Tablets marked with "GX CL5"

Lamictal is available in generic form as lamotrigine.

How to take and store Lamictal
Follow the doctor's directions. Call if you have any questions. Ask the doctor what to do if you forget a dose. The way the medicine is taken depends, of course, on what form the doctor has prescribed.

Swallow regular Lamictal tablets whole. Chewing them may leave a bitter taste. All the tablets of this type are shaped like a shield and marked with the name "LAMICTAL" and the number of milligrams in the dose.

If you have chewable dispersible tablets, you can swallow them whole, chew them, or mix them in a liquid like water or diluted fruit juice. If you chew these tablets, you probably will want to drink a little water or diluted juice to help you swallow. To mix them in a liquid, add the tablets to a small amount of the water or juice (1 teaspoon, or enough to cover the tablets) in a glass or spoon. Wait about 1 minute, until the tablets have completely broken up. Then carefully stir the liquid and drink it all immediately.

It's OK to take Lamictal either with food or without food, but it's best to be consistent from day to day. People who usually take Lamictal with food should try to do that all the time, because it affects the way the medicine is used by the body.

As the doctor increases the amount of Lamictal that you take, you may be given a different kind of tablet than the ones you've been taking. For example, if you've been taking 100-mg tablets and the new prescription is for 150-mg tablets, be careful to take the correct number. Don't automatically continue to take the same number of pills as before.

Take only the number of tablets that your doctor tells you to take. If you think you've taken one or two extra tablets, call the doctor for advice. For a larger overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency room right away.

Store Lamictal tablets at room temperature away from heat, light, and moisture. Don't keep them in the bathroom if it's damp there. And of course keep them where children can't get at them.

What if I forget?
In general, if you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, delay that dose for a few hours, instead of taking two doses very close together. Then go back to the regular schedule. If you usually take Lamictal only once day, it might be a good idea to wait about 12 hours before taking the next dose. Then you can go back to a 24-hour schedule the next day. If you're not sure about what to do, call the doctor's office for more advice.

If you forget doses often, it may be a good idea to get a special pillbox or watch with an alarm to remind you.

Taking the right amount of seizure medicine on time every single day is the most important step in preventing seizures!