Most people who take Lamictal don't have too much trouble with side effects. The most common complaints include:

• dizziness
• upset stomach
• headache
• unsteadiness
• double vision
• rash

Most of these problems are mild to moderate.

On the positive side, people who take Lamictal report less tiredness than with all but a few other seizure medicines. In fact, it's slightly stimulating for many people, which is usually a welcome side effect. It could be a problem, however, if it causes insomnia (sleeplessness), which can trigger seizures.

About 10% of patients experience a rash. The vast majority of these rashes are not serious. They most often occur in the first 6 weeks of treatment, so during this time, patients should be aware of any skin problems.

Some other side effects mentioned even less often were:

• serious rash
• insomnia (sleeplessness)
• poor concentration
• loss of appetite
• vision problems

If you notice problems like any of these while you are taking Lamictal, it's probably a good idea to discuss them with your doctor or nurse. Sometimes the doctor can help with side effects by changing the prescription:

• reducing the overall amount of Lamictal
• changing the amount taken at certain times, such as taking a greater proportion of the Lamictal in the morning to reduce nighttime sleeplessness
• prescribing smaller doses, to be taken more often Don't stop taking Lamictal or change the amount you take or when you take it without your doctor's guidance.

Some people who take Lamictal together with carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol) or oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) find they have fewer side effects if they take the two medicines 1 to 2 hours apart instead of at the same time. Check with your doctor to see if this is advisable for you.

Also see “What are the most serious side effects of Lamictal?” Serious problems are very rare but everyone who takes Lamictal should at least be aware of them.

Allergic reactions
Approximately 1 in 10 people who take Lamictal have a red rash within the first 6 weeks of taking it. If this happens, tell the doctor or nurse right away, to be sure that it's not the beginning of a serious problem. It's rare for the rash to be serious, but don't ignore it. It's often necessary to switch to a different seizure medicine.

Long-term side effects
The long-term side effects of Lamictal are unknown.