Lacosamide: MedlinePlus Drug Information

Skip navigation


Other drug names:	A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0-9

Lacosamide

(la koe' sa mide)

Contents of this page:
Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose?	What side effects can this medication cause? What storage conditions are needed for this medicine? In case of emergency/overdose What other information should I know? Brand names

Why is this medication prescribed? Return to top

Lacosamide is used in combination with other medications to control certain types of seizures. Lacosamide is in a class of medications called anticonvulsants. It works by decreasing abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

How should this medicine be used? Return to top

Lacosamide comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken twice a day (morning and night) with or without food. Take lacosamide at around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take lacosamide exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Swallow the tablets whole; do not chew or crush them.

Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of lacosamide and gradually increase your dose, not more often than once a week.

Lacosamide may help control your condition but will not cure it. It may take a few weeks or longer before you feel the full benefit of lacosamide. Continue to take lacosamide even if you feel well. Do not stop taking lacosamide without talking to your doctor, even if you experience side effects such as unusual changes in behavior or mood. If you suddenly stop taking lacosamide, your seizures may happen more often. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually.

Other uses for this medicine Return to top

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

What special precautions should I follow? Return to top

Before taking lacosamide,

tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to lacosamide, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in lacosamide tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had an irregular heartbeat; a heart attack; heart failure; diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage caused by diabetes); or heart, liver, or kidney disease.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking lacosamide, call your doctor.
you should know that lacosamide may make you dizzy or drowsy and may cause blurred vision or problems with coordination and balance. Do not drive a car, operate machinery, or participate in activities requiring alertness or coordination until you know how this medication affects you.
you should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways and you may become suicidal (thinking about harming or killing yourself or planning or trying to do so) while you are taking lacosamide. A small number of adults and children 5 years of age and older (about 1 in 500 people) who took anticonvulsants like lacosamide to treat various conditions during clinical studies became suicidal during their treatment. Some of these people developed suicidal thoughts and behavior as early as 1 week after they started taking the medication. There is a risk that you may experience changes in your mental health if you take an anticonvulsant medication such as lacosamide, but there may also be a risk that you will experience changes in your mental health if your condition is not treated. You and your doctor will decide whether the risks of taking an anticonvulsant medication are greater than the risks of not taking the medication. You, your family, or your caregiver should call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: panic attacks; agitation or restlessness; new or worsening irritability, anxiety, or depression; acting on dangerous impulses; difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; aggressive, angry, or violent behavior; mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood); talking or thinking about wanting to hurt yourself or end your life; or any other unusual changes in behavior or mood. Be sure that your family or caregiver knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.
you should know that lacosamide may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, or irregular heartbeat, especially when you get up too quickly from a lying position. If you develop these symptoms, lie down with your legs raised until you feel better, and call your doctor right away.

What special dietary instructions should I follow? Return to top

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

What should I do if I forget a dose? Return to top

If only a few hours have passed since you were scheduled to take the dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if more than a few hours have passed, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

What side effects can this medication cause? Return to top

Lacosamide may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
blurred or double vision
uncontrollable eye movements
dizziness
headache
drowsiness
uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body
problems with coordination, balance, or walking
weakness
itching

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

fast or pounding heartbeat or pulse
shortness of breath
slow heartbeat
fainting
fever
rash
tiredness
yellowing of the skin or eyes
dark urine

Lacosamide may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

What storage conditions are needed for this medicine? Return to top

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

In case of emergency/overdose Return to top

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

What other information should I know? Return to top

Keep all appointments with your doctor.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Lacosamide is a controlled substance. Prescriptions may be refilled only a limited number of times; ask your pharmacist if you have any questions.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

Brand names Return to top

Vimpat®

Last Revised - 10/01/2009

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. Disclaimer

AHFS^® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, 2009. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.