Glaxo's anti-seizure drug may cause meningitis: FDA

[steve2470]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline Plc's anti-seizure drug Lamictal can cause a brain inflammation known as aseptic meningitis, U.S. health regulators said on Thursday.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cited 40 cases of the serious complication between December 1994 and November 2009, 35 of which required hospitalization. The cases did not involve more serious meningitis caused by bacteria.

Symptoms returned when patients restarted the drug and were often worse, the agency said in a notice posted on its website at link.reuters.com/xez64n. The agency said it was adding the warning to the drug's label.

"Aseptic meningitis is a rare but serious side effect of Lamictal use," said Russell Katz, head of the FDA division that oversees neurology products. "Patients that experience symptoms should consult their health care professional immediately."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67B3TA20100812

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. I've heard of Lamictal causing bad headaches but not this.

[sakabatou]

2. Time for a recall.

[jwirr]

3. The doctor wanted to try it with my daughter but we are lucky - she

could not take it on here sensitive stomach. Ended up in the hospital 3 times with dehydration. I try to keep them from using their experimental drugs. We are doing pretty well on Dilan-tin and have been for years. I make it clear to the doctors that quality of life is much more important than complete control which in her case would mean heavy sedation. She has 5 different types of seizures. Most are controlled.

[Odin2005]

4. Shit, I take that for my Cyclothymia.

[mix]

5. great

:(

[JoeyT]

6. Lamictal has pretty nasty side effect profile anyway.

There's a reason the first stage of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis is often referred to as "The Lamictal Rash".

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. "Patients that experience symptoms should consult their health care professional immediately."

Gotta love that part.
As if their "health care professional" ( aka "your prescriber") has any clue to the side effects which often are kept hidden by the drug companies.

One Dr. gave me gabapentin for shingles pain ( worst pain the world, lemme tell ya)
and said nothing about " don't stop taking it immediately, you have to taper off of it".
Not to mention it is off label for anything but seizures and has a long list of side effects.
guess what? Valium does same job, on demand, cheap, effective.
I must give her credit for keeping sufficient pain meds available.


another dr. gave me a pain shot of some new drug, I get home and find on the internet
warnings that the patient HAS to be watched for 4 hours for a possible bad side effect
AND the med needs to followed by a script for more of the same med, taken 4 x a day.

No script was ever given.

Several docs I have seen in the past were reluctant to write scripts for generics or first generation forms of a med, instead pushing the "newest" and of course most expensive meds.

Sigh.

[RobinA]

9. Aren't

"first generation forms of a med" the same as "newest"? Generics have their own problems. I would be happy to have a Dr. who was reluctant about generics. Could mean he's paying attention.

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. first generation are oldest.

Like people.

Pharma produces new versions of older drugs when the patent is due to run out, then charge more for the new version.
Often..not every time, but quite often, there is not significant difference between the first generation drug and the following slightly changed newer versions.

Diazapam is generic for Valium, for instance.
Works fine.
OTC Benedryl works fine.
My pharmacist is a wonderful source of information about scripts, I use his brain every time before I fill one.
I also had the job of coordinating my clients' medication information for our clinic doc, again the
pharmacists were invaluable, often prevented a troublesome combination of prescribed meds from a client's several doctors.

Lots of info on sites that discuss meds, side effects, etc.

[RobinA]

11. OK

I was looking at this completely differently, thinking of "first generation" in reference to a new drug, thinking Dr.s might be unwilling to prescribe it because it hasn't been on the market long enough to have the real world side effects fully known. For instance, I am hesitant to take first generation drugs, because when it turns out five years later they cause one to grow a third arm, I'd rather not be the guinea pig. Guess it depends where the drug is on the family tree.

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. think of new drugs as the "beta" version. First generation drugs are tried and true.

and if still around, usually can be trusted.

there seem to be lots of people who are willing to buy and try the newest whatever out there.
I happily cheer them on.

[RobinA]

8. Drugs Have Side Effects?

I had no idea. 40 cases in 15 years? Wonder what the side effect profile of seizures is?