What is the best time to take Lamictal for bipolar disorder? (3 important factors)
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
This article will discuss the best time to take Lamictal (Lamotrigine) for bipolar disorder. We will also discuss some factors to consider when determining the best time to take Lamictal and what you should do if you wish to change the time of taking Lamictal.
What is the best time to take Lamictal for bipolar disorder?
Lamictal can be taken at any time of the day for the management and treatment of bipolar disorder. It is usually taken twice a day, evenly spaced out (1). The standard dose for bipolar disorder is between 200-400 mg, taken once or twice each day (1)(2).
The medication can be taken with or without food. So, there’s no specific time to take Lamictal and you can take it when it’s convenient for you or when your doctor has advised you to.
However, it’s important to make sure that you keep a constant time gap between your doses. If you’re taking it once a day, make sure you take it at the exact same time the next day.
If you’re taking two doses, they should be spread out evenly throughout the day to maintain the concentration of the drug in your body properly. This is important to achieve your treatment goals.
Factors to consider when determining the best time to take Lamictal
There are some factors to consider when determining the best time to take Lamictal. These include:
Dosage frequency
Your doctor will determine the best time for you to Lamcital based on your dose frequency. If you have to take a single dose once daily, your doctor may recommend taking it in the morning or at night.
However, some people take Lamictal in two divided doses, which should have a proper time gap between them.
Side effects
The best time to take Lamictal for an individual can also be decided based on the side effects experienced. Lamictal can cause drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, loss of coordination, etc which may affect your daily life activities if you take it early in the morning (3).
In such cases, doctors recommend taking the medication at night – preferably a single dose – to help the body adjust to the medication. Your timing can be changed by the doctor once your body adjusts to the medication.
Concomitant use of other medications
Some people take multiple prescription medications, which is an important factor to consider. Some medications may interact with Lamictal and may increase or decrease its effectiveness.
In such a case, your doctor will determine a separate time to take Lamictal which can help you achieve a safe and effective therapeutic response – without possible drug-drug interactions.
When to consult your doctor?
If you wish to change the time of taking Lamictal, please consult your doctor. It is not recommended to switch the timing on your won.
Your doctor will help you safely switch the timing to a more appropriate one. Just make sure you don’t make any changes to your prescription on your own. Lamictal works on the brain and such meds should never be used improperly.
Skipping doses can be dangerous, depending on how severe your bipolar disorder is. This is why you need to discuss your concerns with your doctor and should not do anything with your medication without seeking professional medical advice.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed the best time to take Lamictal for bipolar disorder. We have also discussed some important factors to consider when deciding the best time to take this medication and when you should seek medical advice.
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References
1.-
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. LAMICTAL (lamotrigine) tablets, for oral use. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2015/020241s045s051lbl.pdf
2.-
National Health Service. How and when to take lamotrigine. [Internet]. London: National Health Service (NHS). Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/lamotrigine/how-and-when-to-take-lamotrigine/
3.-
National Library of Medicine. Lamotrigine: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. National Library of Medicine. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a695007.html
