Community Forum Archive

The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.

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

Talking to your doctor about switching

Submitted by apmast on Fri, 2008-10-17 - 10:06

I was concerned when the Walmart pharmacy changed me from Lamictal to the generic.  I asked them if that was something they could do and they assured me it was.  I contacted my doctor and he said that if I wanted he would give me a lacmital (only) script.  I told him that the generic saves me $35 a month and that I would stick with it.  I then told him that I didn't want to lose my license if I had a seizure and he said, "You won't lose your license because I authorized that you can be on generic so the "own us" would fall on me."

 So, I urge anybody who has switched to generic to contact their prescriber and make sure that if they do have a breakthrough seizure that they are not liable to losing their license.  It's worth the phone call or (better yet) written consent. 

Cheers, Andrew

I was concerned when the Walmart pharmacy changed me from Lamictal to the generic.  I asked them if that was something they could do and they assured me it was.  I contacted my doctor and he said that if I wanted he would give me a lacmital (only) script.  I told him that the generic saves me $35 a month and that I would stick with it.  I then told him that I didn't want to lose my license if I had a seizure and he said, "You won't lose your license because I authorized that you can be on generic so the "own us" would fall on me."

 So, I urge anybody who has switched to generic to contact their prescriber and make sure that if they do have a breakthrough seizure that they are not liable to losing their license.  It's worth the phone call or (better yet) written consent. 

Cheers, Andrew

Re: Talking to your doctor about switching

Submitted by daydreamer410 on Wed, 2008-10-22 - 21:00
I went to the pharmacy a few weeks ago to pick up my lamictal and didn't realize they gave me the generic until i was out of my regular so i had to take it that night and the next morning.  It made me sick, dizzy and blurred my vision.  The price change is not worth it to me at all.  When my doctor calls in or writes my script he has to specify brand name only but again its worth the difference for me.  Good luck!

Re: Talking to your doctor about switching

Submitted by robl on Wed, 2009-06-10 - 02:27

The one time I had generic was not good.  I started having seizures again.  The chemistry is different in the generics.   For me, the name brand is like driving a Mercedes and the generic is like driving a truck.  Fortunately I live in a country where I only have to pay 10 bucks a prescription.

The one time I had generic was not good.  I started having seizures again.  The chemistry is different in the generics.   For me, the name brand is like driving a Mercedes and the generic is like driving a truck.  Fortunately I live in a country where I only have to pay 10 bucks a prescription.

Sign Up for Emails

Stay up to date with the latest epilepsy news, stories from the community, and more.