*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature L: Laxatives.

Side Effects Of Lamotrigine

NHS medicines information on side effects of lamotrigine and what you can do to cope.

Like all medicines, lamotrigine can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

Most side effects of lamotrigine wear off, but it can take several weeks or months.

When you start taking lamotrigine, it's important to increase the dose slowly as this will help reduce or stop some side effects happening.

Lamotrigine can also cause some unpredictable side effects no matter what dose you take, and these can happen at any time.

Speak to your pharmacist or doctor if you're concerned about side effects.

Common side effects

These common side effects of lamotrigine may happen in more than 1 in 10 people. There are things you can do to help you cope:

If this advice does not help and you are bothered by any of these side effects, keep taking the medicine but tell your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Skin rashes

It's common to get a skin rash with lamotrigine. Most skin rashes are not serious.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a rare side effect of lamotrigine.

It causes flu-like symptoms, followed by a red or purple rash that spreads and forms blisters. The affected skin eventually dies and peels off.

It's more likely to happen in the first 8 weeks of starting lamotrigine, or when the dose is increased too quickly.

It can also happen if lamotrigine is stopped suddenly for a few days and then restarted at the same dose as before, without reducing the dose and then increasing it slowly again.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome is more common in:

children
people who have developed a rash before with a different epilepsy medicine
people who are allergic to an antibiotic called trimethoprim
people also taking a medicine called sodium valproate

To help reduce the chance of you getting a rash that could be confused with Stevens-Johnson syndrome, it's best to not try any new medicines or food during the first 3 months of treatment with lamotrigine.

Go to A&E now if:

you get a severe rash with flushing, blisters or ulcers - these can be signs of Stevens-Johnson syndrome

Find your nearest A&E

Other serious side effects

Very few people taking lamotrigine have any serious problems as any serious reaction is quite rare.

Tell a doctor or call 111 straight away if you have a serious side effect, including:

worsening fits or seizures (if you take lamotrigine for epilepsy)
unexpected bruising or bleeding, a high temperature or sore throat - these could be signs of a blood disorder

Go to A&E or call 999 now if:

you have thoughts of harming or killing yourself - a small number of people taking lamotrigine for bipolar disorder have had suicidal thoughts, and this can happen after only a few weeks of treatment
you have a stiff neck, headaches, feel or are being sick, a high temperature and extreme sensitivity to bright light - these could be signs of meningitis

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to lamotrigine.

Long-term side effects

There have been reports of osteoporosis and osteopenia in people taking lamotrigine for a long time. Both these conditions increase your risk of breaking a bone.

Your doctor can arrange for tests to check your bone strength.

Regular exercise and a good diet can also help keep your bones strong.

Other side effects

These are not all the side effects of lamotrigine. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature L: Laxatives. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
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