What is lacosamide?
Lacosamide is an antiepileptic drug.
Lacosamide is used together with other medications to treat partial-onset seizures in people with epilepsy who are at least 17 years old.
Lacosamide may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
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Precautions
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Instructions
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Side Effects
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Interactions
Precautions
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to lacosamide.
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication. Before you take lacosamide, tell your doctor if you have:
- kidney disease;
- liver disease; or
- a serious heart condition such as "AV block," heart failure, or sick sinus syndrome (unless you have a pacemaker).
You may have thoughts about suicide while taking this medication. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several months of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.
Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether lacosamide is harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Your name may need to be listed on a antiepileptic drug pregnancy registry if you become pregnant while you are taking this medication. The purpose of this registry is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and delivery to evaluate whether lacosamide had any effect on the baby.
It is not known whether lacosamide passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Do not give this medication to a child younger than 17 years old.
Lacosamide can cause side effects that may impair your vision or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly.
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Instructions
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Overdose can cause dizziness, blurred vision, confusion, fast heart rate, or fainting.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
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Side Effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, depression, anxiety, panic, or if you feel hyperactive, talkative, restless, agitated, aggressive, angry, impulsive, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Stop using lacosamide and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
- confusion, thoughts of hurting yourself;
- double vision;
- feeling like you might pass out;
- fast or pounding heartbeats;
- feeling short of breath;
- fever, swollen glands, easy bruising or bleeding;
- nausea, pain in your upper stomach, jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes);
- skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness; or
- lower back pain, cloudy or bloody urine, swelling, rapid weight gain, urinating less than usual.
Less serious side effects may include:
- headache, ringing in your ears;
- tremors, muscle spasms, numbness or tingly feeling;
- drowsiness, trouble concentrating;
- dizziness, spinning sensation;
- loss of balance or coordination;
- constipation, diarrhea, upset stomach, vomiting; or
- blurred vision.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
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Interactions
There may be other drugs that can interact with lacosamide. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
Other Names
lacosamide and Vimpat
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Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version 2.05. Revision date 8/23/04
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