Lamictal / Lamotrigine warnings for heart patients

Hello @santosha and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. How wonderful that you are also from South American and joining us and supporting members like @abelmarcelo with your experience.

Did you switch from Lacosamide to Lamictal?

@ santosha
Hello Christine,
I am just curious whether you have a heart condition or epilepsy? If you’re comfortable in doing so could you tell us what your condition is and more about the details?
Jake

Hi Amanda, Good Evening
Thank you for your warm welcome.
Answering your question. No, Lamictal was the first anti-seizure medication I have taken. Because of severe insomnia, I have switched to Tegretol first, then to Trileptal and Gabaneurin, and finally to Vimpat, which was the worst of all medications I have tried. Today, I am back to Tegretol taking it together with medical cannabis.

Hi Jake,
It is a pleasure to share my experiences so as to help other people. I have epilepsy and do not have any heart problems. But with Vimpat I had daily heart palpitations. Did I answer your question?

Hi @abelmarcelo, just one more comment. There is a very nice material regarding medications and side effects at the Epilepsy Foundation. Look for "Medical Therapy in Epilepsy: Treatment, Side Effects, and Drug Interactions" at the Epilepsy Foundation (epilepsy.com) or You Tube.
Buena Suerte!

muchas gracias

Hi Jake,

I'm bipolar and have been taking Lamictal (lamotrigine) for years. In the last few months I have developed moderate-to-severe muscle and joint pain and am presently trying to determine if there may be a connection. I do have arthritis in most joints, but this is a step increase in the discomfort level. Although there are warnings about potential liver damage from Lamictal use, a recent battery of blood tests proved inconclusive. My shrink's given me the ok to lower my dose a bit.

Are you taking Lamictal?

Any thoughts?

To all taking Lamictal, please comment.. tomorrow my nonverbal autistic/ epileptic 48 yr old daughter sees the seizure specialist to discontinue Zonegran and switch to Lamictal because of side effects from Zonegran ( on 15 mos) She's tried Depakote ( hospitalized from high ammonia) and Dilantin worked for years but then levels dropped and too many issues..
Any help for other meds that might work? She has very few tonic clonics but more absence seizures it appears
Also on Seroquel and Buspar .. doesn't Lamictal help mood disorders?
Thank you for any help!!!

My 80 year old husband who has dementia, has taken lamictal and Keppra together for 3 years. No noticeable side effects. And he is almost always in a good mood, and the seizures are well under control. Wishing you the best result for your daughter. Sounds like you have a lot on your plate.

Thank you kindly.. i think doctor will probably choose Lamictal.. it's older AED
THE Zonegran is newer.. but as we know all drugs have side effects..
Have to try something..