Community Forum Archive
The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.
Lamictal and pregnancy
Mon, 02/07/2005 - 20:43Hi everybody
I have juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. I am currently 32 weeks pregnant and take 300mg of lamictal daily and have remained seizure free and well so far.
I am concerned about the long term side effects of lamictal on my baby if I breast feed. I have recently read a paper "Concerns regarding lamotrigine and breast feeding" by Liporace et al which makes me concerned about the babys ability to metabolise the drug. I now think that I do not wish to breast feed my baby, but I am wondering if my baby goes through withdrawel from lamictal in the early stages of life will he suffer long term side effects from this. I know that breast feeding and especially colostrum has long term benefits but i am cautious due to the lack of information about what process the baby will use to metabolise it and how the build up of the drug in his system might affect his growth and development.
Has anyone else information or experience of bottle feeding or breast feeding a baby after taking lamictal through the pregnancy.
Would be gretaful for any input on how they are and if you think they went through withdrawal or any other side effects.
Thanks
Bugsbunny
Comments
RE: RE: Lamictal and pregnancy
Submitted by bugsbunny on Sat, 2005-07-16 - 15:26
RE: RE: RE: Lamictal and pregnancy
Submitted by gonenative99 on Sun, 2005-07-24 - 14:59
Hello all- I am new to this community & I want to thank all of you who have posted your information and experiences with pregnancy and lamictal. My first baby is due next week and I have found that the further my pregnancy goes, the more frightened I get at the "what ifs" that cross my mind at 3:00 am. I feel so much comfort from the information you have shared and I have to note that out of all the postings I have read so far... not one person has said they have experienced birth defects or developmental delay in their children who were concieved, carried and/or breastfed on Lamictal. I hope I can write back in a few weeks and report a normal delivery and a healthy mama and child as well.
I have been taking 300 mg Lamictal the whole pregnancy, supplemented with the higher levels of folic acid in the first trimester and the 10 mg vitamin k these last few weeks. I plan on breastfeeding my baby when he comes next week- I have done alot of research on breastfeeding as well- consulting 2 pediatricians, my neurologist, and 2 lactation consultants- who all encourage me to breastfeed, by the way.
****Most of the information I have found is the same as what you have already posted, buuuut- the lactation consultants had a book- of course I don't have the exact title, but it addressed medications in breastmilk. Apparently we metabolize drugs in our breast milk differently than we do in our bloodstreams. Lamictal was there- listed under Lamotrigine- It was a scientific text, and I'm not sure I understood it fully, but what I got from it (and the lactation consultants, who I will acknowledge are heavily biased for breastfeeding) was that its possible to take your medication and have your child not exposed to Lamictal in your breastmilk AT ALL- because it will metabolize out of your breastmilk anywhere from 1-4 hours after you take it! So saying- you can take your medication- do a "pump and dump" to get rid of the lamictal-tinged milk, then the next feeding you are offering your child Lamictal free nutrition. ****
I will follow up and try to find the name of the textbook so you all can check- and I also plan on having the baby tested for Lamictal levels and if I find them increasing then I will of course switch to the bottle- but its worth a shot. Maybe we can have the best of both worlds?
Hello all- I am new to this community & I want to thank all of you who have posted your information and experiences with pregnancy and lamictal. My first baby is due next week and I have found that the further my pregnancy goes, the more frightened I get at the "what ifs" that cross my mind at 3:00 am. I feel so much comfort from the information you have shared and I have to note that out of all the postings I have read so far... not one person has said they have experienced birth defects or developmental delay in their children who were concieved, carried and/or breastfed on Lamictal. I hope I can write back in a few weeks and report a normal delivery and a healthy mama and child as well.
I have been taking 300 mg Lamictal the whole pregnancy, supplemented with the higher levels of folic acid in the first trimester and the 10 mg vitamin k these last few weeks. I plan on breastfeeding my baby when he comes next week- I have done alot of research on breastfeeding as well- consulting 2 pediatricians, my neurologist, and 2 lactation consultants- who all encourage me to breastfeed, by the way.
****Most of the information I have found is the same as what you have already posted, buuuut- the lactation consultants had a book- of course I don't have the exact title, but it addressed medications in breastmilk. Apparently we metabolize drugs in our breast milk differently than we do in our bloodstreams. Lamictal was there- listed under Lamotrigine- It was a scientific text, and I'm not sure I understood it fully, but what I got from it (and the lactation consultants, who I will acknowledge are heavily biased for breastfeeding) was that its possible to take your medication and have your child not exposed to Lamictal in your breastmilk AT ALL- because it will metabolize out of your breastmilk anywhere from 1-4 hours after you take it! So saying- you can take your medication- do a "pump and dump" to get rid of the lamictal-tinged milk, then the next feeding you are offering your child Lamictal free nutrition. ****
I will follow up and try to find the name of the textbook so you all can check- and I also plan on having the baby tested for Lamictal levels and if I find them increasing then I will of course switch to the bottle- but its worth a shot. Maybe we can have the best of both worlds?
RE: RE: Lamictal and pregnancy
Submitted by happycat2 on Mon, 2005-07-11 - 12:53
Hi.
I have read through your posts ,and you already know from Amy that both your neurologist and your gynecologist/obstetrician need to be involved in reviewing your antiepileptic drug .Certainly to discuss any potential medication changes prior to the beginning of a pregnancy for your safety and the child's. Different drugs control certain types of epilepsy best- and are less effective for other types.There seems to be such a diversity globally on their effects I have read on another site worlds apart from this one. It's important that you can be treated with the lowest dose of the most effective drug. GlaxoSmithKline are saying new research shows an interaction between lamotrigine and oral contraceptives which may result in the reduced effectiveness of the contraceptives.
http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/news/index.html
The importance of working with your health care team to make the best decisions about medications during pregnancy cannot be stressed enough(Shawna Cutting has researched this.) her article is on this site, along with other information on aed's and pregnancy that covers your post quite thoroughly.
Amy got it right in her reply...You may be able to breast-feed your baby even if you are taking antiseizure medication,as most of these medications pass into the breast milk in very small amounts and are not likely to harm your baby. Before beginning breast-feeding however, review your medications seems sensible advice. I started out on dilantin and took it for several years,then I took topamax and finally tegretol which works great for me,and breast fed all my children.
Thanks Amy for posting.
Cat.
Hi.
I have read through your posts ,and you already know from Amy that both your neurologist and your gynecologist/obstetrician need to be involved in reviewing your antiepileptic drug .Certainly to discuss any potential medication changes prior to the beginning of a pregnancy for your safety and the child's. Different drugs control certain types of epilepsy best- and are less effective for other types.There seems to be such a diversity globally on their effects I have read on another site worlds apart from this one. It's important that you can be treated with the lowest dose of the most effective drug. GlaxoSmithKline are saying new research shows an interaction between lamotrigine and oral contraceptives which may result in the reduced effectiveness of the contraceptives.
http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/news/index.html
The importance of working with your health care team to make the best decisions about medications during pregnancy cannot be stressed enough(Shawna Cutting has researched this.) her article is on this site, along with other information on aed's and pregnancy that covers your post quite thoroughly.
Amy got it right in her reply...You may be able to breast-feed your baby even if you are taking antiseizure medication,as most of these medications pass into the breast milk in very small amounts and are not likely to harm your baby. Before beginning breast-feeding however, review your medications seems sensible advice. I started out on dilantin and took it for several years,then I took topamax and finally tegretol which works great for me,and breast fed all my children.
Thanks Amy for posting.
Cat.