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Lamictal - switch to generic lamotrigine?

Fri, 08/08/2008 - 18:27
Hi, everybody. I just joined this site yesterday. I saw a forum where a few people were discussing transitioning to generic lamotrigine (just released) from Lamictol. But now I can't seem to find the forum. I'm considering the generic switch and am wondering if anyone's done it yet, gotten advice on it, etc. Please help! (Or let me know where to find yesterday's forum! It's not coming up in the search.)

Comments

Re: Lamictol - switch to generic lamotrigine?

Submitted by apmast on Wed, 2008-12-10 - 06:48

One thing we all should be checking is our lamictal blood level to make sure that before we switch to generic we are in a good theraputic range.  I am about 9mg/mcg which is right smack dab in the middle of the theraputic range.  I could guess that some of you who have had breakthroughs may have been at a lower range and then the generic causes an unsafe drop in the level, thereby promoting a seizure.... It's just a guess of course, and since I'm not your doctor I can't validate that.  But if people are worried about a reduced potency with generic, talk to your doctor about getting your level checked to cover for a decrease in potency.  I get my level checked about every 3-6 months.  

Cheers, Andrew

One thing we all should be checking is our lamictal blood level to make sure that before we switch to generic we are in a good theraputic range.  I am about 9mg/mcg which is right smack dab in the middle of the theraputic range.  I could guess that some of you who have had breakthroughs may have been at a lower range and then the generic causes an unsafe drop in the level, thereby promoting a seizure.... It's just a guess of course, and since I'm not your doctor I can't validate that.  But if people are worried about a reduced potency with generic, talk to your doctor about getting your level checked to cover for a decrease in potency.  I get my level checked about every 3-6 months.  

Cheers, Andrew

Re: Lamictal - switch to generic lamotrigine? _somewhat lengthy

Submitted by seaglass415 on Tue, 2008-08-19 - 21:17

My experience with generic lamotrigine:

     I don't often visit the boards here but had some recent experiences that had me checking in. Three weeks ago ( give or take a few days) I went to fill my prescriptions for 200mg and 150mg Lamictal. I have TLE with only partial simple seizures and have been on it for 3 years and have had some dosage adjustments but other than that I have done really well on it.  I have never had a seizure that has resulted in me not being aware of everything going on. As far as seizures go, I really have it so much easier than so many on these boards.

My pharmacist (who is awesome) told me that the generic was now available and my insurance wasn't likely to cover the brand name anymore. I knew from experience having worked in a hospital that generic seizure medications have had some inconsistancy issues in the past and that many patients can't tolerate them. My Phamacist agreed with me especially because this was a brand new generic.  He said he would call the dr to see if he could change the scripts to no subs. The dr did that and the pharmacist called the insurance co. and they said no. They would only approve the brand name if I completed a trial of the generic.

I got my new generic meds and started them on Thursday. Sunday at lunchtime I started having wicked car sickness on the way home from church. I then got so dizzy I could keep my head up straight. I couldn't open my eyes without feeling like I was going to throwup all over my car. We got home and I went up to bed as soon as we walked in the door. Less than an hour after we left church I was unable to move even 6 inches before going into a complete tailspin. I couldn't roll-over, couldn't open my eyes and fell down when my husband tried to help me to the bathroom and couldn't get back up.  My husband and my father carried me down to the car and drove me to the hospital.

In the emergency room they jumped to the conclusion that I was having a stroke. Fortunately,  I am compulsive about managing my own healthcare and I have a card that I carry with my allergies, medications, drs etc. and my husband carries a copy in his wallet. They called my neurologist who told them about the change in meds.  My husband stayed with me for a while then went to get a sandwich.  I got really mad at him because it took him so long to come back and in the mean time they admitted me to a room and I was afraid he wouldn't find me. The nurse said he went home and he would be back. I thought about an hour had gone by and I was really upset about him leaving without saying goodbye.

The next morning I found out that the hour that went by was actually over 6 hours and that I was unresponsive for about three of it and disoriented for the rest.  I didn't know who or where I was, why I was there or what year it was. I had a CAT scan, all kinds of other tests and meds, had been moved 2 or 3 times and finally admitted to my room at around 10pm. About 8am I woke up, didn't know why they admitted me, why they wouldn't let me up to go to the bathroom and why they wouldn't get me something to eat. 

I'm still going through some issues with nausea, headaches and such, saw my neuro Monday and he's is not convinced that it's seizure related so tomorrow I get bloodwork and a visit with my primary.  It just keeps going on and on. 3 weeks ago I was out running a couple miles a day with my dog and today I'm just barely getting through my day even laying down every couple of hours for a rest.

My suggestions? 1. Be leary of any change in medication whether it's supposedly "the same thing" or not.        2. Carry a card with all your Dr's names and numbers, any diagnosed medical issues, medications and dosages, and any allergies and reactions. I think it's MEDIDs that offers one online for free and it's pretty easy to fill out and print.

 Oh and as soon as the medication patent ran out, the price dropped over $400. a month for the brand name meds so they put me through this for a savings of approx. $50.00 a month. Now, I get a notice that they will pay for the brand name drug. I guess my "trial" of the generic is over.

              

 

 

 

 

 

Trish

My experience with generic lamotrigine:

     I don't often visit the boards here but had some recent experiences that had me checking in. Three weeks ago ( give or take a few days) I went to fill my prescriptions for 200mg and 150mg Lamictal. I have TLE with only partial simple seizures and have been on it for 3 years and have had some dosage adjustments but other than that I have done really well on it.  I have never had a seizure that has resulted in me not being aware of everything going on. As far as seizures go, I really have it so much easier than so many on these boards.

My pharmacist (who is awesome) told me that the generic was now available and my insurance wasn't likely to cover the brand name anymore. I knew from experience having worked in a hospital that generic seizure medications have had some inconsistancy issues in the past and that many patients can't tolerate them. My Phamacist agreed with me especially because this was a brand new generic.  He said he would call the dr to see if he could change the scripts to no subs. The dr did that and the pharmacist called the insurance co. and they said no. They would only approve the brand name if I completed a trial of the generic.

I got my new generic meds and started them on Thursday. Sunday at lunchtime I started having wicked car sickness on the way home from church. I then got so dizzy I could keep my head up straight. I couldn't open my eyes without feeling like I was going to throwup all over my car. We got home and I went up to bed as soon as we walked in the door. Less than an hour after we left church I was unable to move even 6 inches before going into a complete tailspin. I couldn't roll-over, couldn't open my eyes and fell down when my husband tried to help me to the bathroom and couldn't get back up.  My husband and my father carried me down to the car and drove me to the hospital.

In the emergency room they jumped to the conclusion that I was having a stroke. Fortunately,  I am compulsive about managing my own healthcare and I have a card that I carry with my allergies, medications, drs etc. and my husband carries a copy in his wallet. They called my neurologist who told them about the change in meds.  My husband stayed with me for a while then went to get a sandwich.  I got really mad at him because it took him so long to come back and in the mean time they admitted me to a room and I was afraid he wouldn't find me. The nurse said he went home and he would be back. I thought about an hour had gone by and I was really upset about him leaving without saying goodbye.

The next morning I found out that the hour that went by was actually over 6 hours and that I was unresponsive for about three of it and disoriented for the rest.  I didn't know who or where I was, why I was there or what year it was. I had a CAT scan, all kinds of other tests and meds, had been moved 2 or 3 times and finally admitted to my room at around 10pm. About 8am I woke up, didn't know why they admitted me, why they wouldn't let me up to go to the bathroom and why they wouldn't get me something to eat. 

I'm still going through some issues with nausea, headaches and such, saw my neuro Monday and he's is not convinced that it's seizure related so tomorrow I get bloodwork and a visit with my primary.  It just keeps going on and on. 3 weeks ago I was out running a couple miles a day with my dog and today I'm just barely getting through my day even laying down every couple of hours for a rest.

My suggestions? 1. Be leary of any change in medication whether it's supposedly "the same thing" or not.        2. Carry a card with all your Dr's names and numbers, any diagnosed medical issues, medications and dosages, and any allergies and reactions. I think it's MEDIDs that offers one online for free and it's pretty easy to fill out and print.

 Oh and as soon as the medication patent ran out, the price dropped over $400. a month for the brand name meds so they put me through this for a savings of approx. $50.00 a month. Now, I get a notice that they will pay for the brand name drug. I guess my "trial" of the generic is over.

              

 

 

 

 

 

Trish

Re: Lamictal - switch to generic lamotrigine? _somewhat lengthy

Submitted by RGbrainstorm on Tue, 2008-08-19 - 22:09

Trish,

I really appreciate you sharing that experience, and so sorry you went through it.  

Have any of your doctors said they definitely think it was an adverse reaction to the generic, or are they trying to tell you it's something else? 

By the way, I luckily opted out of the switch to generic when I discovered that it's just not that much cheaper.  (What a world.)

Thanks again.

~RG 

Trish,

I really appreciate you sharing that experience, and so sorry you went through it.  

Have any of your doctors said they definitely think it was an adverse reaction to the generic, or are they trying to tell you it's something else? 

By the way, I luckily opted out of the switch to generic when I discovered that it's just not that much cheaper.  (What a world.)

Thanks again.

~RG 

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