Women and Epilepsy

Women have extra considerations when handling epilepsy, as seizures can be caused by hormone changes related to menstruation and menopause.

Birth Control

When you’re taking birth control pills, you need to feel confident that they won’t be affected by other medicines, including your epilepsy medicines. The specifics depend on your pill and your epilepsy treatment, but the right combination can work. Vimpat does not have any known interactions with birth control pills.

Healthy Pregnancy

Like many women, you might be concerned about medicines causing birth defects in your unborn child. It’s important to note, though, that the most serious birth defects can occur before you even know you’re pregnant. There are also risks from not taking your epilepsy medicine. Remember, you should not stop your medicine unless you are told to by your doctor.

If you have epilepsy and want to have a baby, make sure to tell your neurologist and obstetrician/gynecologist. Both doctors will need to know what medicines you’re taking. Here are some tips for a healthy pregnancy:

Find the right treatment plan so you can get your seizures under control.
Take a vitamin supplement that has folic acid (and keep taking it throughout your pregnancy).
Eat a balanced diet.
Take your epilepsy medicine as prescribed.
Try to reduce any factors that provoke seizures.
Report all seizures to your doctors promptly.
Get enough rest and sleep.
Avoid smoking, alcohol, and caffeine.
Avoid using or being near chemicals like paint, pesticides, and oven cleaners.
Avoid any prescription or nonprescription medicine unless approved by your doctors.
If you want to breast-feed, talk to your doctors about what is right for you.

UCB AED Pregnancy Registry

UCB, Inc. has established the UCB AED Pregnancy Registry to inform and educate pregnant women taking any epilepsy medicines from UCB, Inc., including Vimpat. Your healthcare provider can enroll you in the program or you may enroll yourself. For more information about the UCB AED Pregnancy Registry, talk to your doctor or call 1-888-537-7734.

Menstruation and Menopause

If you have more seizures before or around the time of your period, you’re not alone. Nearly 3 out of 4 women are more likely to have seizures at this time and about one third have twice as many seizures around their period. Check with your doctor to see how altering your medicine can help.

Some women with epilepsy reach menopause earlier than normal. In fact, your seizure history may also be a factor in when you reach menopause. Women who have seizures near the time of their period or who have had many seizures are more likely to go through menopause earlier.

Next: Seniors Living with Epilepsy

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Over 800,000 people taking epilepsy medicine are still having seizures. Now there's hope for seizure control. Now there's Vimpat.

Indication

Vimpat^® (lacosamide) is a prescription medicine that is used with other medicines to treat partial-onset seizures in people 17 years of age and older with epilepsy.

Important Safety Information

Vimpat is generally well-tolerated, but may not be for everyone. Ask your healthcare provider if Vimpat is right for you.

Warnings and Precautions

Antiepileptic drugs, including Vimpat, may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have new or worsening symptoms of depression, any unusual changes in mood or behavior, or suicidal thoughts, behavior, or thoughts about self harm that you have never had before or may be worse than before. Do not stop taking Vimpat without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping Vimpat suddenly can cause serious problems.

Vimpat may also cause you to feel dizzy, have double vision, feel sleepy, or have problems with coordination and walking. You should not drive, operate machinery or do other dangerous activities until you know how Vimpat affects you.

Vimpat may cause you to have an irregular heartbeat or may cause you to feel faint. Call your healthcare provider if you have a fast, slow, or pounding heartbeat, shortness of breath, feel lightheaded, or if you fainted or feel like you are going to faint.

Vimpat is classified as a federally controlled substance (C-V) due to a low potential for abuse. Keep your Vimpat in a safe place and do not give it to anyone else.

In rare cases, Vimpat may cause a serious allergic reaction that may affect your skin or other parts of your body such as your liver or blood cells. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have a skin rash or hives, fever or swollen glands that do not go away, shortness of breath, swelling of the legs, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, or dark urine.

Vimpat oral solution contains aspartame, a source of phenylalanine.

Common Adverse Reactions

The most common side effects with Vimpat are dizziness, headache, nausea, and double vision. To report Suspected Adverse Reactions, contact UCB, Inc. at 866-822-0068 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Please see additional patient information in the Patient Medication Guide. This information does not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your condition or your treatment.

VIMPAT (lacosamide) tablets injection

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