Health & Wellness

Top 13 Foods to Avoid when Taking Lamotrigine

Looking for foods to avoid when taking lamotrigine. A balanced diet is essential for our overall well-being, but some medications may interact with certain foods, potentially reducing their efficacy or causing unwanted side effects.

Lamotrigine, a frequently given antiepileptic and mood stabilizer, is one such medicine. Pay attention to your food choices if you’re taking lamotrigine to achieve the best therapeutic results.

We will explore foods to avoid when taking lamotrigine in this blog post. Some foods may interact with lamotrigine or affect its absorption, metabolism, or overall effectiveness, even though the prescription does not specify restricted dietary requirements.

You may make informed decisions about your diet, reduce the possibility of interactions, and promote the efficacy of your medication by knowing which foods to avoid.

In This Article

  1. Foods to Avoid when Taking Lamotrigine

Foods to Avoid when Taking Lamotrigine

Foods to Avoid when Taking Lamotrigine

Here we have described what foods should you avoid when taking lamotrigine:

1. Grapefruit and Grapefruit juice

What to avoid when taking lamotrigine is Grapefruit and grapefruit juice. It contains compounds called furanocoumarins. These can inhibit certain enzymes in the body responsible for metabolizing medications, including lamotrigine.

When consumed together with this medicine, it could lead to an overdose or increased risk of side effects. So be careful when consuming any medication alongside these fruits!

2. Alcohol

What not to take with lamotrigine is alcohol. It’s important to know the potential risks of combining lamotrigine and alcohol. Both have soothing effects on the central nervous system, which can increase when taken together, impairing cognitive function and coordination.

This could increase the risk of accidents or falls due to decreased reaction time. Additionally, alcohol can amplify any side effects from taking lamotrigine, such as dizziness or drowsiness, which may cause discomfort or interfere with everyday activities.

3. Caffeine

Caffeine can harm the effectiveness of lamotrigine, which is commonly used to control seizures or mood disorders.

Studies suggest that high doses of caffeine may lower the seizure threshold in people with epilepsy and increase side effects such as restlessness, anxiety, irritability, and difficulty sleeping when taken alongside lamotrigine.

4. Fatty foods

What not to eat when taking lamotrigine is Fatty foods. It can slow down the absorption of this medication in our bodies. Lamotrigine is absorbed through our gastrointestinal tract, and its absorption rate depends on what kind and how much food we consume with it.

Eating too many high-fat or saturated-fat foods can delay how quickly lamotrigine works or reduce its effectiveness altogether! To maximize the benefits of your meds, stick to a balanced diet with moderate amounts of fats around your dosing time.

5. High-protein foods

It’s important to be mindful of the potential interaction between high-protein foods and lamotrigine. In most cases, consuming large amounts of protein won’t significantly reduce the effectiveness of lamotrigine.

However, suppose you’re on a ketogenic diet or taking amino acid supplements for medical reasons that might affect your metabolism rate. In that case, it’s best to talk with your healthcare professional about adjusting dosage accordingly.

6. Sage

Sage is a common culinary herb with a long history of traditional use. It’s generally safe to use in moderation as an ingredient in your cooking, but if you’re taking any medication (especially lamotrigine), it’s always best to check with your healthcare provider before adding any new herbs or supplements with medicine.

7. Licorice

Licorice is known to contain a compound called glycyrrhizin. This compound can cause the body to retain potassium and reduce the breakdown of certain medications, including lamotrigine.

Glycyrrhizin inhibits an enzyme called cytochrome P450, which metabolizes many drugs, including lamotrigine.

8. Soy Products

What foods interact with lamotrigine is soy products. It’s important to know that the potential interaction between soy products and lamotrigine is not well-established. Some people have reported increased seizure activity when consuming soy or soy-based products.

So if you’re taking lamotrigine, then it might be worth talking to your doctor about any dietary changes you make involving soy!

9. Eating raw or Undercooked Eggs

If you are taking lamotrigine as an antiepileptic medication, it’s important to avoid eating raw or undercooked eggs. Consuming raw or undercooked eggs can increase the risk of salmonella infection, which can be very unpleasant; symptoms include fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. So remember: cook your eggs thoroughly before eating them!

10. Tyramine-rich foods

Tyramine-rich foods are generally avoided or limited when taking lamotrigine because these medications inhibit the enzyme monoamine oxidase, which helps break down tyramine.

If tyramine builds up in the body due to reduced enzyme activity, it can cause a sudden increase in blood pressure, known as a hypertensive crisis.

11. Aspartame

Aspartame is a great alternative sweetener for those who want to enjoy something sweet without all the calories. It can be found in many sugar-free and diet products, but it does contain phenylalanine which may lower the seizure threshold in some people.

12. Low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet

If you are considering starting a strict ketogenic diet, it is important to consult with your healthcare professional first. This diet severely restricts carbohydrates, which can affect how lamotrigine is metabolized in the body and potentially reduce its effectiveness.

13. Excessive Sodium

High sodium levels can interact with lamotrigine and affect the body’s electrolyte balance. It is recommended to eat a balanced diet and limit your sodium intake.

Frequently Asked Questions & Answers-

Q. Can lamotrigine and alcohol kill you?

Ans- Yes lamotrigine and alcohal can kill you. Combining lamotrigine and alcohol has the potential to have harmful side effects and raise the risk of serious adverse reactions, such as respiratory depression, sleepiness, dizziness, and decreased coordination. Even though it is rare to result in death, it may happen in life-threatening situations.

Q. Does lamotrigine interact with grapefruit juice?

Ans- Yes, there is a chance that lamotrigine and grapefruit juice will react. Compounds in grapefruit juice have the potential to block the body’s enzyme that breaks down lamotrigine. Increased blood levels of the medicine due to this inhibition may raise the chance of adverse effects.

Q. Does lamotrigine interact with tylenol?

Ans- Lamotrigine and Tylenol (acetaminophen) may interact with one another. When taken simultaneously, these two drugs may raise the risk of damage to the liver because they both have the potential to impact liver function.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it’s essential to be aware of specific foods when taking lamotrigine because they may interact with the medicine or reduce its effectiveness.

A balanced and healthy diet should always come first to enhance general well-being, even though some interactions are more important than others.

The best outcomes while taking lamotrigine might be achieved by avoiding or consuming specific foods in moderation.

Read Also:

References

  1. The effect of lamotrigine on epilepsy
  2. Food reduces the bioavailability of lamotrigine
  3. Concerns about lamotrigine | PDF

Dr Maria

MD. Board Certified physician. Fellowship In Family Medicine UK. 8 years of medical experience in Lifestyle-related health disorders. Graduated from AIIMS – All India Institute Of Medical Science, INDIA

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