Is a 350 mg daily dose of lamotrigine given as normal‑release or extended‑release formulation?

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Last updated: February 27, 2026View editorial policy

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Lamotrigine 350 mg Daily Dose: Formulation Type

A 350 mg daily dose of lamotrigine is administered as immediate-release (normal-release) tablets, not extended-release formulation.

Rationale Based on Available Formulations

  • Extended-release lamotrigine tablets are manufactured in strengths of 25,50,100,200,250, and 300 mg only 1. The FDA-approved extended-release formulation does not include a 350 mg tablet strength.

  • To achieve a 350 mg daily dose using extended-release tablets, a patient would need to combine multiple tablets (e.g., 300 mg + 50 mg), which is impractical and not the standard prescribing approach for extended-release formulations 1.

  • Immediate-release lamotrigine allows flexible dosing across a wide range (50–500 mg/day for adjunctive therapy with enzyme-inducing AEDs, and 100–400 mg/day for monotherapy or with valproic acid) 234.

Clinical Context for 350 mg Dosing

  • Standard maintenance doses for immediate-release lamotrigine range from 100–200 mg/day when co-administered with valproic acid, 300–500 mg/day when combined with enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital), and 100–400 mg/day for monotherapy 23.

  • A 350 mg daily dose falls within the typical range for patients receiving enzyme-inducing AEDs or those requiring higher maintenance doses for seizure control or bipolar disorder maintenance 23.

  • Doses up to 700 mg/day have been studied and tolerated in patients receiving concomitant enzyme-inducing AEDs, demonstrating that 350 mg is well within the safe and effective dosing range for immediate-release formulations 4.

Administration Considerations

  • Immediate-release tablets should be swallowed whole with water and can be administered once or twice daily depending on the total daily dose and patient tolerability 25.

  • For a 350 mg daily dose, typical administration would be 175 mg twice daily or 350 mg once daily, depending on individual pharmacokinetics and concomitant medications 26.

Key Pitfall to Avoid

  • Do not assume extended-release formulation is available for all dose strengths. Always verify the specific tablet strengths available for extended-release lamotrigine (25,50,100,200,250,300 mg only) before prescribing 1.

References

Guideline

Lamotrigine Dosage and Administration

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2026

Guideline

Administration of Lamotrigine Formulations

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2025

Research

Lamotrigine clinical pharmacokinetics.

Clinical pharmacokinetics, 1993

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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