What it is used for

Focal seizures, on its own or with other epilepsy medicines
Primary generalised tonic-clonic seizures, alongside other medicines

Read our guides:

Epilepsy

Off-label uses

Doctors sometimes prescribe a medicine for a condition it is not officially licensed for. This is called off-label use. It is legal and common when there is good evidence it helps, and your doctor should explain why they are suggesting it.

Some types of nerve pain, under a specialist

How it works

Lacosamide slows down the recovery of sodium channels on nerve cells. This calms nerve cells that are firing too often, which helps stop seizures.

Side effects

Like all medicines, Lacosamide can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Many are mild and ease after the first few weeks.

Common side effects

feeling dizzy
headache
feeling sick
double vision
unsteadiness
feeling tired

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if these bother you or do not go away.

Serious side effects

These are rare. Call 111 or contact your doctor straight away if you get:

a slow or irregular heartbeat, fainting
thoughts of harming yourself
a severe skin rash

Call 999 if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as swelling of your lips, mouth, throat or tongue, or trouble breathing.

You can report any side effect to the Yellow Card scheme, run by the medicines regulator.

Stopping and withdrawal

Important safety information

Your doctor may check your heart with an ECG if you have heart problems.
Do not drive until you know how it affects you, and follow DVLA rules on epilepsy.

Questions about your medicine?

A pharmacist can answer questions about your medicines for free, without an appointment. You can also ask your GP for a medication review. Check if you can get free prescriptions.