This article describes possible side effects of lacosamide oral solution. You can explore this overview article to learn more about lacosamide, including the drug’s uses, side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.
Lacosamide oral solution is a generic version of the brand-name drug Vimpat. Lacosamide also comes in an injectable form and other forms that you’ll swallow. But these forms aren’t described in this article. To learn more about these forms, talk with your doctor.
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More common side effects of lacosamide
Lacosamide oral solution may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of lacosamide oral solution include:
- dizziness*
- eye or vision problems*
- headache
- nausea or vomiting
- sleepiness
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of lacosamide in detail” section below.
Mild side effects of lacosamide
Lacosamide may cause certain mild side effects. Usually, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of lacosamide oral solution that occurred in studies include:
- dizziness*
- eye or vision problems*
- fatigue
- headache
- itchiness
- lack of energy
- nausea or vomiting
- sleepiness
- tremor
- vertigo
- mild allergic reaction*†
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of lacosamide in detail” section below.
† An allergic reaction is possible with lacosamide oral solution. But it wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.
Lacosamide oral solution may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
Serious side effects of lacosamide
Lacosamide may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from lacosamide oral solution, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with lacosamide.
Serious side effects of lacosamide oral solution that occurred in studies include:
- changes in heart rhythm or electrical activity in the heart
- depression
- problems with balance or coordination*
- severe drowsiness
- suicidal thoughts or behaviors
- a rare type of allergic drug reaction called DRESS syndrome that affects the liver, kidneys, and possibly other organs
- severe allergic reaction*†
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of lacosamide in detail” section below.
† An allergic reaction is possible with lacosamide oral solution. But it wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.
Suicide prevention
If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:
- Call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
- Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
- Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
- Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.
If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.
If you are not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.
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Get free cardCommon questions about side effects of lacosamide
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of lacosamide oral solution. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Does lacosamide cause long-term side effects?
Long-term side effects aren’t expected with lacosamide oral solution. In studies, specific side effects weren’t seen in people who had taken the drug for a long time. Long lasting side effects after treatment ended also weren’t reported.
Talk with your doctor if you have more questions about possible long-term side effects with lacosamide.
Can lacosamide cause teeth-related side effects or weight gain?
No, these aren’t expected side effects of lacosamide oral solution. These side effects can be a problem with other antiepileptic drugs, such as phenytoin (Dilantin) and gabapentin (Neurontin). But neither weight gain nor teeth-related side effects were reported in studies of lacosamide oral solution.
Talk with your doctor to learn more about the side effects of lacosamide oral solution and other antiepileptic drugs. Tell them if you have concerns about weight gain or teeth-related side effects.
Do side effects of lacosamide go away?
It depends. With many drugs, mild side effects are usually temporary. They tend to go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. This happens as your body gets used to the effects of the drug. But everyone is different, and some people respond differently.
If you have side effects that become bothersome or don’t go away, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.
Side effects of lacosamide in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of lacosamide oral solution.
Dizziness and problems with balance or coordination
In studies, dizziness was very common in people taking lacosamide oral solution. Problems with balance or coordination were common, too. These side effects may be serious.
Dizziness and problems with balance or coordination were most common with dosage increases. They were also more common with higher dosages of lacosamide oral solution. Dizziness was the most common reason for stopping lacosamide oral solution.
Dizziness and problems with balance or coordination can affect your ability to walk. These side effects, along with sleepiness and eye or vision problems, can make it hard to do activities.
Ways to manage
Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how lacosamide oral solution affects you. If you have concerns about dizziness and problems with balance or coordination, tell your doctor. They may have suggestions for managing these side effects.
Eye or vision problems
In studies, eye or vision problems were common in people taking lacosamide oral solution. These side effects are usually mild but may be serious.
With eye or vision problems, you may experience:
- blurred vision
- double vision
- repetitive, uncontrolled movements or shaking of the eyes
These problems can make it hard to drive or do other activities that require clear vision. Being sleepy or having problems with balance or coordination can make activities even harder.
Ways to manage
Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how lacosamide oral solution affects you. If you experience eye or vision problems, tell your doctor. They may have suggestions for managing these side effects.
Allergic reaction
For some people, lacosamide oral solution can cause an allergic reaction.
Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to lacosamide oral solution, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Warnings for lacosamide
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking lacosamide oral solution.
Warnings
It may not be safe for you to take lacosamide oral solution if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether lacosamide oral solution is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking lacosamide oral solution, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:
- depression
- diabetic neuropathy
- heart problems
- kidney disease
- liver disease
- mood problems
- past substance or alcohol use disorder
- past suicidal thoughts or behaviors
- past allergic reaction to lacosamide
Lacosamide and pregnancy
It’s not known whether lacosamide oral solution should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Your doctor may talk with you about the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry. This registry monitors pregnancy outcomes during treatment with antiepileptic drugs, such as lacosamide. You can learn more by calling 888-233-2334 or visiting this website.
Lacosamide and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether lacosamide oral solution should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Lacosamide and alcohol
Lacosamide oral solution is not known to interact with alcohol.
But drinking alcohol while taking lacosamide could make some side effects worse. This includes dizziness, vision problems, and problems with coordination.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with lacosamide oral solution.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of lacosamide oral solution. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Does my risk of side effects depend on the dosage I take?
- Is my risk of side effects higher when I first start lacosamide oral solution?
- How can I manage the most common side effects of lacosamide oral solution?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.