Lamotrigine | Cardinal Health while Breastfeeding
Do you know that important immune protective proteins are present in breast milk? Breast milk also contains required vitamins, minerals, saturated and un saturated fats. These things are extremely important for development of healthy brain. If you are taking any medicine for short term or for the chronic reason then that passes in breast milk as well, that is why you should always check the drug with your health care provider. Here at DrLact we try to analyze drugs based on available researches and in this sheet we will present our analysis for Lamotrigine | Cardinal Health.

What is Lamotrigine | Cardinal Health used for?


1. INDICATIONS AND USAGE Lamotrigine is indicated for: Epilepsy - adjunctive therapy in patients aged 2 years and older: •partial-onset seizures. •primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. •generalized seizures of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.(1.1) Epilepsy - monotherapy in patients aged 16 years and older: Conversion to monotherapy in patients with partial-onset seizures who are receiving treatment with carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, primidone, or valproate as the single AED. (1.1) Bipolar disorder : Maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder to delay the time to occurrence of mood episodes in patients treated for acute mood episodes with standard therapy. (1.2) Limitations of Use: Treatment of acute manic or mixed episodes is not recommended. Effectiveness of lamotrigine tablets in the acute treatment of mood episodes has not been established. 1.1. Epilepsy Adjunctive Therapy Lamotrigine tablets are indicated as adjunctive therapy for the following seizure types in patients aged 2 years and older: •Partial-onset seizures. •primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures. •generalized seizures of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Monotherapy Lamotrigine tablets are indicated for conversion to monotherapy in adults (aged 16 years and older) with partial-onset seizures who are receiving treatment with carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, primidone, or valproate as the single antiepileptic drug (AED). Safety and effectiveness of lamotrigine tablets have not been established (1) as initial monotherapy; (2) for conversion to monotherapy from AEDs other than carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, primidone, or valproate; or (3) for simultaneous conversion to monotherapy from 2 or more concomitant AEDs. 1.2. Bipolar Disorder Lamotrigine tablets are indicated for the maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder to delay the time to occurrence of mood episodes (depression, mania, hypomania, mixed episodes) in patients treated for acute mood episodes with standard therapy [see Clinical Studies (14.2)]. Limitations of Use Treatment of acute manic or mixed episodes is not recommended. Effectiveness of lamotrigine tablets in the acute treatment of mood episodes has not been established.

I am breastfeeding mother and I am using Lamotrigine | Cardinal Health. Can it have any bad effect on my kid? Shall I search for better alternative?

Lamotrigine | Cardinal Health low risk for breastfeeding
Lamotrigine | Cardinal Health contains only one active ingredient that is Lamotrigine. We have analyzed the usage of Lamotrigine in breastfeeding and our analysis suggest that Lamotrigine poses Low risk for infant while breastfeeding and hence Lamotrigine | Cardinal Health itself shall be considered Low risk item for breastfeeding.

Statement of Manufacturer/Labeler about breastfeeding usage
8.3. Nursing Mothers Lamotrigine is present in milk from lactating women taking lamotrigine tablets. Data from multiple small studies indicate that lamotrigine plasma levels in human milk-fed infants have been reported to be as high as 50% of the maternal serum levels. Neonates and young infants are at risk for high serum levels because maternal serum and milk levels can rise to high levels postpartum if lamotrigine dosage has been increased during pregnancy but not later reduced to the pre-pregnancy dosage. Lamotrigine exposure is further increased due to the immaturity of the infant glucuronidation capacity needed for drug clearance. Events including apnea, drowsiness, and poor sucking have been reported in infants who have been human milk-fed by mothers using lamotrigine; whether or not these events were caused by lamotrigine is unknown. Human milk-fed infants should be closely monitored for adverse events resulting from lamotrigine. Measurement of infant serum levels should be performed to rule out toxicity if concerns arise. Human milk-feeding should be discontinued in infants with lamotrigine toxicity. Caution should be exercised when lamotrigine tablets is administered to a nursing woman.

Lamotrigine | Cardinal Health Breastfeeding Analsys


Lamotrigine while Breastfeeding

Low Risk

CAS Number: 84057-84-1

As high as therapeutic levels of this drug have been found in the serum of infants (35-50% of maternal serum level). Side-effects were not observed, neither developmental nor IC derangements at long term follow-up among hundreds of children of treated mothers. A case was published of apnea in a newborn baby whose mother was on a very high dose of Lamotrigine (850 mg a-day). During pregnancy, it increases the clearance of Lamotrigine and other antiepileptic medication that warrants an increase in dosage in this period. After birth, the serum level rapidly increases with a risk of harm on both the mother and the infant, whenever dose is not reduced to that previous from pregnancy. An infant, 1 1/2 months old, whose mother was on Lamotrigine, resulted affected with Abstinence Syndrome soon after sudden weaning.

Lamotrigine | Cardinal Health Breastfeeding Analsys - 2


Lamotrigine while Breastfeeding

CAS Number: 84057-84-1

Lamotrigine | Cardinal Health and breastfeeding

Occasional adverse reactions have been reported in infants who receive lamotrigine in milk, but long-term exposure does not appear to affect infant growth and development. Breastfed infants whose mothers are taking lamotrigine have relatively high plasma lamotrigine levels. Neonates are particularly at risk for high plasma levels because their ability to metabolize the drug by glucuronidation is limited, plasma protein binding is relatively low, and maternal plasma and milk levels can rise dramatically in the immediate postpartum period if the dosage is not reduced to the prepregnancy dosage.[1][2] If lamotrigine is required by the mother, it is not necessarily a reason to discontinue breastfeeding, because many infants have been breastfed without adverse reactions. However, breastfed infants should be carefully monitored for side effects such as apnea, rash, drowsiness or poor sucking, including measurement of serum levels to rule out toxicity if there is a concern. Monitoring of the platelet count and liver function may also be advisable. If an infant rash occurs, breastfeeding should be discontinued until the cause can be established.

Is Lamotrigine | Cardinal Health safe while breastfeeding

I already used Lamotrigine | Cardinal Health and meanwhile I breastfed my baby should I be concerned?

Lamotrigine | Cardinal Health is in the category of low risk, if you have already used it then its not a big deal if health and behavior of baby is good. However your health care provider shall be aware of the fact that you have used Lamotrigine | Cardinal Health so you should inform him based on your convenience.


I am nursing mother and my doctor has suggested me to use Lamotrigine | Cardinal Health, is it safe?

Lamotrigine | Cardinal Health comes in category of low risk and if your doctor is aware that you are breastfeeding it should be ok to use without much concerns.


If I am using Lamotrigine | Cardinal Health, will my baby need extra monitoring?

Not much monitoring required while using Lamotrigine | Cardinal Health


Who can I talk to if I have questions about usage of Lamotrigine | Cardinal Health in breastfeeding?

US
National Womens Health and Breastfeeding Helpline: 800-994-9662 (TDD 888-220-5446) 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday

UK
National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300-100-0212 9.30am to 9.30pm, daily
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers: 0300-330-5453
La Leche League: 0345-120-2918
The Breastfeeding Network supporter line in Bengali and Sylheti: 0300-456-2421
National Childbirth Trust (NCT): 0300-330-0700

Australia
National Breastfeeding Helpline: 1800-686-268 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Canada
Telehealth Ontario for breastfeeding: 1-866-797-0000 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Drug Brands with same Active ingredients

Lamotrigine Tablet, Extended Release
Lamotrigine Tablet, Orally Disintegrating
Lamotrigine Tablet, Film Coated, Extended Release
Lamotrigine Chewable Dispersible Tablet, For Suspension
Lamotrigine Tablet, For Suspension
Lamictal Xr | Lamotrigine Tablet, Film Coated, Extended Release
Subvenite | Lamotrigine Tablet
Lamotrigine Kit