Dissolvable Form of Anti-Seizure Drug Gains FDA Approval

A new version of the epilepsy and bipolar disorder drug Lamictal which dissolves on the tongue has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Lamictal, which is also available as generic lamotrigine, is used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorders. Many patients who suffer from the disorders have difficulty swallowing, so taking the drug in pill form may create problems. The new dissolvable version will be available in 25 mg, 50mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg doses and may hit pharmacy shelves by July 2009.

Since losing patent protection and facing generic competition on the drug for the first time, the drug’s maker, GlaxoSmithKline, has seen sales of Lamictal drop 61 percent, earning $207 million worldwide in the first three months of 2009, officials said.

Lamictal is commonly given to patients who have not benefitted from treatment with lithium, carbamazepine, or valproate.

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