News Briefs: Lamotrigine who?

News Briefs: Lamotrigine who?

GlaxoSmithKline is continuing to receive reports about prescription dispensing errors involving its antiepileptic drug lamotrigine (Lamictal) and other medications, most commonly Lamisil, lamivudine, Ludiomil, labetalol, and Lomotil. Some epileptic patients needing Lamictal have mistakenly received other drugs; likewise, some patients prescribed other medications have erroneously received Lamictal.

London-based GlaxoSmithKline has developed materials and suggestions for pharmacists and physicians to help prevent dispensing errors. These materials include:

• a "shelf shouter" that can be used to help differentiate Lamictal from other stocked merchandise; and
• a sample of a patient-information tear sheet about Lamictal, which may be given to patients when prescriptions are filled.

For more information, contact the GlaxoSmithKline Customer Response Center at (888) 825-5249.