Lacosamide

Lacosamide is a prescription medication used in combination with other medications to control partial–onset seizures. It belongs to a group of drugs known as anticonvulsants, which reduce abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

This medication comes in tablet form and oral solution and is usually taken twice a day by mouth, with or without food.

It is also available in injectable form and can be given directly into a vein (IV) by a health professional.

Common side effects of lacosamide include headache, double vision, and nausea. Lacosamide can also cause dizziness, blurry vision, and drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how lacosamide affects you.

Lacosamide is a prescription medication used in combination with other medications to control partial-onset seizures in people 17 years of age and older. This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Lacosamide may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Vimpat

Serious side effects have been reported with lacosamide. See the “ Drug Precautions” section.

Common side effects of lacosamide include the following:

• headache
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• nausea
• tremor
• blurred vision

This is not a complete list of lacosamide side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

No lacosamide drug interactions have been identified. However, you should tell your doctor about all the medications you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Not all drug interactions are known or reported and new drug interactions are continually being reported.

Serious side effects have been reported with lacosamide including the following:

• suicidal thoughts and behavior. Lacosamide may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500. Call a healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:
  • thoughts about suicide or dying
  • attempt to commit suicide
  • new or worse depression
  • new or worse anxiety
  • feeling agitated or restless
  • panic attacks
  • trouble sleeping (insomnia)
  • new or worse irritability
  • acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
  • acting on dangerous impulses
  • an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)
  • other unusual changes in behavior or mood

• Pay attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.
• Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled.
• Call your healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you are worried about symptoms.
• Suicidal thoughts or actions can be caused by things other than medicines. If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, your healthcare provider may check for other causes.

Do not stop lacosamide without first talking to a healthcare provider. Stopping VIMPAT suddenly can cause serious problems. Stopping seizure medicine suddenly in a patient who has epilepsy can cause seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus).

• heart rhythm abnormalities. Tell your doctor if you have severe cardiac disease, especially if you have conduction problems such as AV block. Lacosamide may cause you to have an irregular heartbeat or may cause you to faint. Call your healthcare provider if you have:
  • fast, slow, or pounding heartbeat
  • shortness of breath
  • feel lightheaded
  • fainted or if you feel like you are going to faint

If you have fainted or feel like you are going to faint you should lay down with your legs raised.

• serious allergic reaction. Tell your health care provider right away if you have any or all of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction:
  • a skin rash, hives
  • fever or swollen glands that do not go away
  • shortness of breath, swelling of the legs, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, or dark urine.
• Lacosamide is a federally controlled substance (C-V) because it can be abused or lead to drug dependence. Keep your lacosamide in a safe place, to protect it from theft. Never give your lacosamide to anyone else, because it may harm them. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.

Lacosamide can also cause dizziness, blurry vision, and drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how lacosamide affects you.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of lacosamide, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.  

Before taking lacosamide, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to lacosamide or any ingredient in it
• have heart problems
• have severe kidney or liver problems
• have a history of drug dependence
• have abused prescription medicines, street drugs, or alcohol in the past
• have or have had depression, mood problems or suicidal thoughts or behavior
• are pregnant or breastfeeding 

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to get pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories- A, B,C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Lacosamide belongs to category C. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans, though. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if lacosamide crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with the use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using lacosamide.

Take lacosamide exactly as prescribed.

Lacosamide comes in tablet and liquid form and is typically given by mouth twice a day.

Lacosamide may be taken with or without food.

This medication is also available in injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional.

• Your healthcare provider will tell you how much lacosamide to take and when to take it.
• Your healthcare provider may change your dose if needed.
• Do not stop lacosamide without first talking to a healthcare provider. Stopping lacosamide suddenly in a patient who has epilepsy can cause seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus).
• If your healthcare provider has prescribed lacosamide oral solution, be sure to ask your pharmacist for a medicine dropper or medicine cup to help you measure the correct amount of lacosamide oral solution. Do not use a household teaspoon. Ask your pharmacist for instructions on how to use the measuring device the right way.

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it as almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of lacosamide at the same time.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your weight
• your height
• your age
• your gender

The recommended dose of lacosamide for the treatment of partial-onset seizures is 50 mg twice a day. The dose may be increased at weekly intervals up to 400 mg a day in two divided doses.

If you take too much lacosamide, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

• Store between 59˚and 86˚F.
• Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.