What Foods To Avoid When Taking Lamotrigine?

Lamotrigine is a potent medication prescribed for the treatment of epilepsy. It also helps prevent depression in young people living with bipolar disorder. If you are taking lamotrigine to treat your bipolar disorder or epilepsy condition, you might be wondering which foods to avoid when taking lamotrigine. It is important to know about those foods to minimize the potential risks and protect your overall health as these foods can interact with lamotrigine, reduce absorption of the medicine, and worsen its side effects. Let’s dive directly into the article that will guide you to the food you need to avoid with lamotrigine and what food you can consume.

8 Foods To Avoid With Lamotrigine

Some evidence shows that nutrition impacts mental health. Research shows certain fatty acids moderately lower the severity of perceived symptoms in people living with bipolar disorder. Another study concludes that lifestyle factors such as a healthy diet and exercise can be helpful in bipolar disorder management. Wondering what to avoid when taking lamotrigine? These are the foods you should not add to your daily diet:

1. Refined Grains

Refined Grains such as white bread, white pasta, baked goods, white rice, and chips have a high glycemic index. This means these food items can increase the blood sugar levels. Eating them sometimes does not create a problem. But if you have them in excess quantities every day, it can raise the possibility of long-term high sugar levels that can lead to diabetes. An elevated blood sugar level can increase the extreme emotions that are associated with bipolar disorder. So, have a low-carb diet such as lean meats, eggs, nuts, leafy green vegetables, apples, blueberries, seeds, and unsweetened dairy products to manage the condition and overall health. 

2. Sugar

Consuming foods highly rich in refined sugars can lead to high blood sugar levels, weight gain, and obesity and thus, can make lamotrigine less effective. Research says an individual should have less than 10 percent of calories from the added sugars. It means an average person can consume about 4 to 5 teaspoons of sugar a day. Avoid or limit the use of certain sugary foods such as candy, honey, cookies, syrup, desserts, ice cream, pastries, energy drinks, and fruit juice with lamotrigine. Some food options such as sauces, yogurt, dressings, and soup have hidden sugars. So, always make sure to closely look at the nutritional label of every product before purchasing.

3. Citrus Fruits

Lamotrigine and grapefruit (citrus fruit) have a distressing connection. How? Grapefruits or their juices are rich in compounds that can hinder the lamotrigine metabolism. These compounds slow the activity of the liver enzymes which have a major role in breaking down the components of this medication. When the drug takes time to get absorbed in the liver, its level increases in the bloodstream which, as a result, leads to increased side effects or fatal conditions. Therefore, it is recommended not to consume citrus fruits in raw or juice forms in excess amounts. However, having them in moderate quantities might not significantly affect the effectiveness of the medication.

4. Sodium-Rich Foods

High sodium-rich foods such as canned meat or fish, frozen breaded meats, salted nuts, savory snacks, and beans sealed with added salt can enlarge the blood vessels by increasing the pressure in these vessels. This can lead to high blood pressure and eventually, it can cause nerve issues. You have to remember that your body does not need sodium during the treatment of epilepsy. Sodium intake in a low amount can raise the chances of seizures and a high amount can contribute to nerve problems. Ensure to consume 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. You can visit the nutritionists to know your body’s daily requirements for sodium.

5. High-Protein Foods

Certain foods highly rich in proteins like legumes, meat, dairy products, and fish can affect the absorption of lamotrigine. This happens when amino acids in these foods and medications interact with each other. So, to increase the efficient absorption of this drug, it is recommended to consume high-protein meals and lamotrigine at different times. Take this oral medicine either 2 hours before or after having protein-rich foods. Following this strategy can help boost its effective absorption in the liver which, as a result, enhances its effectiveness in treating epilepsy or bipolar disorder.

6. Saturated Fats-Rich Foods

Experts say that high saturated fats in foods can increase nerve damage risks in people taking lamotrigine. This is because these foods can change the way the body absorbs this drug. The main sources of high-saturated fat are high-fat meat cuts, butter, cheese, sour, and cream. Eating fatty or fried foods with this medication will make it less effective in treating the condition, in addition, they will impact your heart health. So, an ideal option is to eat food with low saturated fat content, including lean protein, healthy grains, green veggies, and low-fat dairy products.

7. Alcohol

Lamotrigine interactions with alcohol are not good for your health. Drinking alcohol while taking this medication can have a bad combination which can increase certain side effects risks like drowsiness and dizziness. The components of alcohol can act as a depressant on the body’s central nervous system which can worsen the lamotrigine’s sedative effects. Also, alcohol can impact the mood swings associated with bipolar disorder. Hence, bipolar patients who consume alcohol are more likely to die too early. Therefore, it is suggested to avoid or limit the consumption of alcohol with Lamotrigine. If you want, take it in moderate amounts and also closely look for its potential side effects.

8. Caffeine

Caffeine is a potent stimulant present in many beverages such as tea, chocolate, coffee, and energy drinks. Lamotrigine and caffeine can have potential interaction. Research shows that caffeine can trigger the symptoms of mania (high emotions) in people living with bipolar disorder and impact sleep patterns and the metabolism of certain medications like lamotrigine to treat this condition. Moderate amounts of caffeine consumption may have not shown a major effect on the potency of this medication, but excess intake may interrupt its efficacy. So, it's always advised to watch over your caffeine consumption while taking lamotrigine and if required, seek professional help.

What Are The Foods To Eat With Lamotrigine?

If you have concerns about the lamotrigine interactions with certain foods, there are other food options you can opt for that may include:

• Non-citrus fruits: Apples, blueberries, bananas, watermelon, pears, blackberries, raspberries, and kiwi.

• Low-protein foods: Oats, avocado, leafy green veggies, broccoli, rice, barley, and beans.

• Caffeine-Free Beverages: Coconut water, fresh fruit smoothies, iced tea, fruit-infused water, and golden milk.

• Unrefined Grains: lentils, black rice, brown rice, oatmeal, quinoa, and sweet potatoes.

• Healthy Fats-Rich Foods: Have fatty fish, walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseeds, olives, nuts, and fish oil.

Summing Up

We learn in this article about the foods to avoid when taking lamotrigine. Understanding the role of food choices with lamotrigine may increase the effectiveness of the treatment of epilepsy or bipolar disorder for people struggling with these conditions. Excluding certain foods from everyday diet can greatly boost the treatment experience and overall well-being. Also, make sure to remain active by regularly practicing some exercises to enhance seizure control. You can look out for your symptoms and side effects and openly discuss them with your doctors. Remember that making the right decisions regarding certain food items can play a significant role in effectively managing your mental health condition.