Lamotrigine - Long term effects

[Endless]

I found this statement interesting:

Lamotrigine binds to melanin-containing tissues such as the iris of the eye, but the long-term effects of this binding and accumulation are unknown.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/980201ap/curry.html

Hey, Melanin is in nerve tissues. If lamictal binds to melanin, then what will it do to our nerve tissues long-term, good or bad?

http://www.i2k.com/~suzanne/ZINC%20m...n-page%205.pdf

*Zinc is the main element found bound to melanin, (a dark brown substance) in pigmented cells and tissues of the skin, hair, parts of the eye, and certain nerve cells. Melanin is synthesized and stored inside melanosomes (specialized organelles also referred to as melanin granules) of melanocytes that are located in the epidermis and connective tissue of the skin (Borovansky J,1994). Melanocytes transport melanin granules to parts of the eye and ear, and to certain nerve cells of the brain

Okay, let's all put on our science hats:

The neuron also contains inclusion bodies, which have variable distribution in the nervous system, e.g.: Melanin pigments (Neuromelanin) are found in the substantia nigra of the midbrain and locus coeruleus of the pons in the brainstem

http://sta.uwi.edu/fms/MDSC1001/THENERVOUSTISSUE.pdf

Okay, if Lamictal binds to Melanin in nervous system tissue, is it:
a) long term or permanant?
b) good, bad, or mixed?
c) what diseases or nervous functions would it affect?

I'm guessing nobody knows at this point.

[Nakamova]

My theory: I think that the melanin-binding aspect of Lamictal affects vision because plays a big role in how sharply we see things (in addition to being responsible for the color of our eyes).

Melanin mops up the light that has passed through the retina, keeping it from being reflected back and scattering around inside the eye; it has the same function as the black paint inside a camera. The melanin-containing cells also help chemically restore the light-sensitive visual pigment in the receptors after it has been bleached by light.

Melanin reduces the amount of light entering our eyes and improves their image-forming ability (similar to the way that "stopping down" the iris diaphragm of a camera does).

If melanin is bound that means it's not available to do its usual tasks -- including those related to our ability to focus.

[jyearta]

I think all of the drugs have side effect and that is according to the person taking them, we all react diffently.
I really don't like this process of elelimination, but that is just how it is.
I have to remember to be thankful for the medic.
I too wish I didn't to take my med.

[kostareyna]

My theory: I think that the melanin-binding aspect of Lamictal affects vision because plays a big role in how sharply we see things (in addition to being responsible for the color of our eyes).



Melanin reduces the amount of light entering our eyes and improves their image-forming ability (similar to the way that "stopping down" the iris diaphragm of a camera does).

If melanin is bound that means it's not available to do its usual tasks -- including those related to our ability to focus.

Is keppra somehow related to melanin as well?

I know that everything is brighter since i've started taking it to a point where my eyes hurt and i can't focus on something that is far away (i know who is there but i can't see him as clear as someone who is close to me) and it was like this even on a small dose as 500 mg a day.Din't really chagne after increase.

[Nakamova]

Keppra doesn't bind to melanin -- but it's not known exactly how it works in the brain, so it could potentially cause vision side effects by a different process.