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Overview: Subvenite is a medicine that is used to manage certain types of seizures or bipolar disorder. The most common side effects of Subvenite are dizziness, drowsiness, tremor, double/blurred vision, headache, trouble with balance and coordination, nausea, or vomiting. Tell your health care provider right away if you get a rash, fever, or swollen lymph nodes or feel depressed or short of breath. Do not stop this medicine without talking to your health care provider.

Uses

What is Subvenite used for?

Subvenite (lamotrigine) is commonly used to treat certain types of seizures or bipolar disorder.

Subvenite may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

See also: Lamotrigine

How does Subvenite work (mechanism of action)?

Subvenite seems to affect certain pathways and chemicals in the brain to calm brain activity, lowering your seizure risk and helping with mood changes in bipolar disorder.

How is Subvenite supplied (dosage forms)?

Brands and other names

  • Subvenite

Dosage forms and strengths

  • 10 mg/mL oral suspension

How should I store Subvenite?

Subvenite should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F and 77 F (20 C and 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F and 86 F (15 C and 30 C) for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Store in a cool, dry place.

Throw away unused medicine 90 days after you first open the bottle.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of Subvenite?

The most common side effects of Subvenite are listed below. These side effects may vary depending on your age and the condition that is being treated. Tell your health care provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

  • Dizziness and drowsiness
  • Tremor 
  • Double or blurry vision
  • Headache
  • Trouble with balance or coordination
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain
  • Runny nose, stuffy nose, or sore throat
  • Rash
  • Infection
  • Fever
  • Dry mouth
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Back pain

There may be other side effects of Subvenite that are not listed here. Contact your health care provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088 (800-332-1088). In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of Subvenite?

While less common, the most serious side effects of Subvenite are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Subvenite can cause allergic reactions, including a specific type of allergic reaction called DRESS. DRESS stands for drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms. It is also sometimes called multiorgan hypersensitivity. This is a possibly life-threatening reaction that can affect multiple parts of the body, including your liver, kidneys, and heart. Get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching or skin rash
  • Bumps on the skin called hives, which can be red, pink, white, or brown depending on your skin tone
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain
  • Dark-colored urine
  • Your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish in color (also called jaundice)

Severe Skin Reactions. Subvenite can cause severe skin reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), that can lead to death if not treated. A rash may happen at any time during treatment but is more likely within two to eight weeks of starting Subvenite. People under 18 years have a higher risk of severe skin reactions. If you get a rash, call your health care provider right away. Get emergency help if you have any of the following symptoms of SJS or TEN.

  • Painful red or purple skin that looks burned and peels off
  • Flat red rash or blisters on your skin, mouth, nose, and genitals
  • Red, painful, watery eyes
  • Flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, and muscle aches

Immune System Problem. Subvenite may cause a condition called hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), which can cause inflammation throughout your body. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms.

  • Fever
  • Rash
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Coughing and trouble breathing
  • Stomach pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish in color (also called jaundice)
  • Trouble walking
  • Changes in your vision
  • Headache

Blood Disorders. Subvenite can cause blood disorders, such as low levels of a type of white blood cell (called neutrophils), which is known as neutropenia, low white blood cell levels (leukopenia), low red blood cell levels (anemia), low platelet levels (thrombocytopenia), aplastic anemia, pancytopenia, and a condition called pure red cell aplasia, wherein your bone marrow does not make enough normal red blood cells. Get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of blood disorders.

  • Fever
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pale or yellowish skin
  • Easy bruising or bleeding
  • Frequent infection
  • Unusual weakness or tiredness
  • Dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling like you are about to pass out
  • Headache
  • Fast or abnormal heartbeat

Suicidal Thoughts and Actions. Subvenite may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a small number of people. If you are about to harm yourself, call 911 or call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms.

  • New or increased thoughts of suicide or death
  • Suicide attempt
  • New or increased feelings of anxiety, depression, or other unusual changes in mood or behavior
  • Panic attacks
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • New or worsening irritability, aggression, anger, or violence
  • Impulsiveness
  • Talking more or faster than usual
  • Excessive happiness or an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania)

Heart Rhythm Changes. Subvenite may cause heart rhythm problems that can lead to an irregular or slowed heartbeat and fainting. In rare cases, this may cause the heart to suddenly stop beating (cardiac arrest). Some people have a higher risk of this, including people who already have heart problems or those who take other medicines that affect the heart. Get emergency help if you have any of the following signs of heart rhythm changes.

  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or fainting
  • Changes in your heart rate or rhythm, such as a fast, slow, pounding, or skipping heartbeat

Meningitis. Subvenite may cause you to develop a condition called meningitis. People with meningitis have swelling around the protective lining around their brain and spine. Sometimes, medicines like Subvenite can cause meningitis. You may be at a higher risk of this happening if you have a connective tissue condition, such as lupus. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms. 

  • Headache
  • Fever or chills
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Stiff neck
  • Rash
  • Light sensitivity
  • Muscle pain
  • Confusion
  • Sleepiness

Status Epilepticus. Subvenite may cause a condition called status epilepticus, where your seizure lasts longer than expected or lasts for five minutes or longer. Get emergency help if you or a loved one have a seizure that does not go away or lasts longer than usual.

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use Subvenite?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take Subvenite.

  • Lamotrigine
  • Subvenite
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in Subvenite.

What should I know about Subvenite before using it?

Do not take Subvenite unless it has been prescribed to you by a health care provider. Take it as prescribed. Your risk of a serious skin rash that may be life-threatening increases if you take a higher starting dose than what was prescribed for you or if you increase your dose faster than what your health care provider prescribed.

Do not stop taking Subvenite without talking to your health care provider. Stopping Subvenite suddenly can cause you to have seizures. Talk to your health care provider about how to stop Subvenite slowly. If you are to start taking Subvenite again, make sure that you talk to your health care provider first. You may need a different dose than what you last took.

Do not share Subvenite with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.

Keep Subvenite out of the reach of children.

Many different forms of lamotrigine are available. Make sure to check your medicine when you get it from the pharmacy. Subvenite is a pink liquid.

If you are taking Subvenite for seizures, tell your health care provider if your seizures worsen or if you have any new types of seizures. 

Subvenite can affect your alertness or coordination. Do not drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how Subvenite affects you.

Do not start or stop hormonal birth control or hormone replacement therapy while you are taking Subvenite without first talking to your health care provider. Stopping these medicines may increase the amount of Subvenite in your body and cause side effects. Starting these medicines may decrease the amount of Subvenite in your body, so it may not work as well. Tell your health care provider if you have any changes in your period (menstrual cycle) or have breakthrough bleeding between your periods. See the Interactions section for more details.

Shake Subvenite well before each dose. Use an accurate measuring device to measure your dose. A household spoon is not an accurate measuring device and may cause you to take the wrong dose. Ask your pharmacist what measuring device to use.

If you will be taking a urine drug screening test, tell the person giving you the test about all medicines that you take, including Subvenite. This medicine may make the test positive for another drug.

What should I tell my health care provider before using Subvenite?

Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them know if Subvenite is right for you.

Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following.

  • Depression, mood problems, or suicidal thoughts or behavior
  • Blood disorders
  • Liver or kidney problems
  • An autoimmune disease, such as systemic lupus erythematosus

Heart Problems or an Irregular Heartbeat. Subvenite may cause a fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat in people with heart problems, such as heart rhythm problems. Tell your health care provider if you or any of your family members have any heart problems, including genetic problems. Examples include heart failure, arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, or Brugada syndrome.

Allergies. Tell your health care provider if you have had a rash or allergic reaction to another medicine that is used for seizures.

Meningitis. Subvenite is a form of lamotrigine. Tell your health care provider if you have taken any form of lamotrigine and had meningitis because of the medicine.

Other Medicines and Supplements. Subvenite may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before taking Subvenite, tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Pregnancy. It is not known if or how Subvenite could affect pregnancy or harm a fetus. Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Your health care provider will let you know if you should take Subvenite while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking Subvenite, you can sign up for the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry by calling 888-233-2334 or at www.aedpregnancyregistry.org. This registry collects safety information about the use of antiseizure medicines during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding. Subvenite passes into breast milk. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your health care provider will let you know if you should take Subvenite while breastfeeding. If you breastfeed while taking Subvenite, monitor your baby for side effects. These may include breathing problems, excessive sleepiness, and trouble feeding. Tell your health care provider right away if you notice any of these things.

How can I get more information about Subvenite?

For more information about Subvenite, you can visit the drugmaker’s website at www.subvenitestarterkits.com/patient or call them at 800-273-6729.

Interactions

Does Subvenite interact with foods or drinks?

There are no known interactions between Subvenite and foods or drinks.

It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect Subvenite. The risk of dizziness and drowsiness may increase if you drink alcohol while taking Subvenite.

Does Subvenite interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking Subvenite.

  • A birth control pill, patch, vaginal ring, implant, injection, or intrauterine device (IUD) that contains hormones
  • Estrogen, which is found in certain pills, patches, creams, rings, or vaginal suppositories
  • Carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol, and others), which is a medicine commonly used to treat seizures or nerve pain
  • A barbiturate, such as phenobarbital or primidone, which is a medicine that may be used to treat insomnia, migraines, or seizures
  • Phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek, and others), which is a medicine to control seizures
  • Rifampin (Rifadin), which is a medicine commonly used to treat an infection called tuberculosis
  • Divalproex sodium, valproate sodium (Depakote and others), and valproic acid, which are medicines used for seizures and other conditions
  • A medicine used to control your heart rate or rhythm (antiarrhythmic), such as dofetilide (Tikosyn)
  • Lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), which is a medicine used to treat HIV

Some other medicines may alter the blood levels of Subvenite, and vice versa. Tell your health care provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken.

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with Subvenite. Always check with your health care provider.

Does interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much Subvenite?

If you or someone else has used too much Subvenite, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of Subvenite?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next dose. Do not take double or extra doses.