Recent findings have shown that Lamotrigine can cause aseptic meningitis, in a warning recently issued by the FDA.  Lamotrigine (Lamictal) is an antiepileptic drug, as well as a maintenance therapy drug for bipolar disorder.

Healthcare professionals are recommended to discontinue prescribing lamotrigine for patients who may be showing signs of meningitis. However, a thorough examination should be given first, to ensure that the symptoms are not a result of something else.

In the 40 cases identified as contracting meningitis through the drug, 35 patients had to be hospitalized. In the majority of the patients, symptoms were resolved after the drug was stopped. When the patients started taking lamotrigine again, symptoms resurfaced after one day.

Some of the symptoms reported by the patients included headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, nuchal rigidity, rash, photophobia, and myalgias.

The FDA said that it is collaborating with GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of lamotrigine to make sure that the product label adequately informed patients of the risk, as well as updating the patient medication guide. The drug comes in a few different forms: an oral pill, an orally disintegrating tablet, and a chewable tablet, as well as an extended release pill.