Bipolar Disorder and Medication Woes: Generic Lamictal ( Lamotrigine)
This is a long newsletter as it is a long story about bipolar disoder and genetic medications!
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Have you noticed that bipolar disorder can sneak up on you in so many ways? I’m always amazed when it sneaks up on me and I get sick no matter how carefully I manage the illness. For the past few weeks, I’ve had a terrifically difficult time working. I have also been really hard on myself. I kept saying, “What is wrong with me! Why can’t I just sit down and finish this book project! It’s only about 20 hours of work and then I can get another book deal! Why am I putting off something that completely affects my future?” This went on for weeks. I just assumed I was being lazy. But I know I’m not a lazy person!
I also found myself spending a lot more time alone – and I’m a very social person. My brain just seemed to shut off. I floated around a lot. There was little creativity and I had trouble sitting down. I then had trouble with anger and got mildly manic a few times. I started to twitch and felt really itchy. And still… I was hard on myself for not getting things done!
I got out of the house and saw friends- but everything was a struggle. I used all of the tips in my books and that kept me functioning. Soon, I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin. I was so restless. But I was also super tired! Then the depression started. It was the kind of depression where I not only felt hopeless, I cried a lot and had trouble completing tasks. I have been like this many times in my life, so I kept going, but it was hard.
Finally, I went to visit a writing friend of mine a few hours away from my house. I had anxiety on the way there and had trouble deciding if I should spend the night or come back and sleep in my own bed. I couldn’t sit and then started twitching again. I alternately felt ok and then anxious. And then it hit me…. it had to me by meds. If you have been following my medication situation on the blog, you will know I switched to generic Lamictal in December. This is actually called generic Lamotrigine. When I got back from my friend’s house- I had such a bad downswing I had to call my mom, my coauthor John, my insurance company and my doctor to help me. They all agreed it was my meds.
I did a LOT of research to make sure the generics were fine. I was told they have the same active ingredients, but that the way they metabolize in the body can differ with each person. The active ingredients may have been the same, but the way the medication went into my body didn’t work. I’m now back to my Lamictal and am starting to feel better. I also feel relief that it wasn’t me- it was the bipolar. This is the reversal of the typical, it’s not you, it’s me! Ha ha.
Generics work for most people- my mom is on generic Lamictal with no problems. There is a long discussion regarding this topic on the blog. If you go to the right menu and click on Lamictal, you will see the entries and comments.
I wrote this long newsletter for a few reasons- first, we have to be so vigilant (as do the people around us) and notice the signs of illness way before they go too far. I had been doing much better work wise for almost a year, so when it got tough, I should have seen that there was something wrong. Also, isolating myself is not the real me and I am very rarely tired. There is a long list of what I could have seen. I also knew in my heart that generics were not right for me as I am ridiculously sensitive to medications. The person with bipolar disorder and the people around that person are the best tools for managing the illness. When I got out my Health Cards and looked over my symptoms, I saw so many signs that I was ill. I wish I had opened them sooner!
I am doing quite well these days. It’s great. Now I can finally get my book proposal done and be proud of myself!
FYI: The brand Lamical is made by Glaxo Smith Kline. It’s an anti convulsant that is especially effective for treatment resistant depression. It also helps my rapid cycling, hypomania, OCD, psychotic and ADHD symptoms! This is why I got so ill with the generic lamtrigine. Whether you take Lamictal or the lamotrigine works for you, as it does many people – it truly is a miracle drug and I hope it works as well for you as it does for me.
Julie
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If you would like to sign up for the newsletter, please click on the link below:
http://www.bipolarhappens.com/hcnl.php
A final note: I want to reiterate that I am not against generic medications at all! I just want all of us to monitor symptoms very carefully whenever we change meds or try new meds. We know our bodies best!
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Tags: Bipolar Medications, generic lamictal, generic lamotrigine, generic medications bipolar, Lamictal
Hi Julie,
I hate generics. I know they’re touted as being wonderful because they’re cheaper and “the same thing” but they’re not. I have had bad side effects on them that I didn’t have on the brand name. Also, my doctor told me over the summer that, according to the FDA, the generic only has to come within 20% of the amount of active ingredient in the brand name drug. So if you’re taking 100mg Lamictal, your generic lamotrigine could be 80mg or 120mg and you’ll never know! They’re not required to tell you and pharmacies switch manufacturers of generics quite often going with whichever one bids lowest. This puts our health at a major risk. So my doc was able to put through a prior authorization for me to get brand name Lamictal instead of the generic my insurance wanted to force me to try this year. Good luck and glad to hear that you’re back to yourself again.
Love, Michelle
I was prescribed generic Lamictal 9 days ago and started to not be able to function 3 days ago. I had headaches, nausea, and labile mood swings. Thank you for your post because it confirmed what I already thought, which was that the generic Lamictal was not working for me. After going to see my Dr. today that suspicion was confirmed. The manufacturur that is, at this time, making generic Lamictal has been making a lot that people have been reacting to. They are allowed to only have a certain percentage of active drug ingredients in their formula. Anyway, I hope that people with reactions to the generic will read this site. It came up for me when I googled “generic lamictal” and I’m really grateful! Thanks!
Hi Rachel,
wow, there are SO many different sides to this story. I have heard from people throughout the industry and most say that the formula has to be the same, and yet too many of us are having trouble! I can’t seem to get an exact answer as to why this is happening- but it’s happening. I will keep getting more info and put it on the blog! Thank you for your story and I’m glad you found an answer! Julie
I had the SAME experience and am extremely angry about the lost time and depression I suffered because of generic Lamictal. I started taking Lamictal last January and switched to the generic last August. I didn’t know that the medications could act on my system differently, and by the time I figured it out, I had lost five months of my life racking my brain for answers as to why I was so depressed. I hope people are aware of this and be extremely vigilant about getting the medications that they need.
Hi, Julie -
I sure wish I’d seen your newsletter before I let my doctor switch me to lamotrigine. I don’t know if what I’ve been taking is made by Teva, but it’s been awful, just like what you experienced. When I called my doctor for an “emergency” appt last week, and described what had been getting progressively worse over the past month,he clearly didn’t credit the generic with the profoundly negative changes I’ve been having, saying these types of responses to generic Lamictal are “very rare.” That’s not what my research (including your newsletter) shows, though. I managed to get him to give me a script for Lamictal, and I hope it doesn’t take long to kick in. How long was it for you? I’m just relieved that, once again, it’s NOT ME, but the bipolar. I wholeheartedly agree with what Lindsay wrote in February. The following blog entry gave addresses and phone numbers to report experiences with the FDA: “Did you know that you can report these problems (called “adverse events”) directly to the FDA? Go to “http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/” ;
Ask your doctor to report this. If he/she is reluctant to do it then you can report it yourself. Reports can be made by healthcare providers or by consumers (patients). You can submit a written form or online form.
The written form is at:
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/FDA-3500_f...
The online form is at:
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwat...
They say it’s for serious adverse events including “therapy inequivalence/failure”. I’d say that’s exactly the problem with the generic forms of this medication. The doses are not “equivalent” to the brand-name.
Generics are legally required to be equivalent to the brand-name in both the active ingredient and the dosage. There is an acceptable range (in other words – no pill is going to be 100.00% accurate), but from the symptoms people are reporting it sounds like a lot of the time the generics are not within the acceptable range. Or else the FDA’s range needs to be re-set so people aren’t having these problems.
Several different companies make the generics, so be sure to report the name of the generic company (if that’s listed on your bottle) or copy down all the numbers and/or letters on both sides of the pill, give the shape and color of the pill, etc. That way maybe the report will be linked to the company who actually made the pill. By the way, here’s the FDA’s phone number if you have questions: 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332)”
Hello Aisha,
WOw, this is great information. I am going to put it on a regular blog tomorrow. I just wrote an article for a NAMI newsletter on this topic. It’s very clear that the NEW generics can be very dangerous- if I didn’t have my treatment plan- I would have gone to the hospital- it was that bad! I was immediately better when I got back on the brand Lamictal. It only took a few days for me to at least start feeling like myself again- the terrible twitching went away within a few days.
But, as I say in my blogs- others have taken the generics without problem- but we do need to be super careful- The generic lamotrigine is a reality that won’t go away- the insurance companies will make sure of that. What matters is that the FDA gets it regulated. There needs to be a list of facilities that are putting out the bad generics! I am going to pass on your information to everyone I can. I will send it to my mailing list, etc. You have helped a lot of people. Julie
I notice that the date for this was months ago. I am glad I saw this. I thought I was losing it. I am on the max of 300, and have been for over 3 yrs now. I am a single mom with gov insurance. I went back to school and have been doing great, just had midterms and bombed them… They switched me last month, and it is the teva… I don’t care about anything right now
Anyways… thanks for the post- I plan to call my doc on Monday
Hi Susan,
I am SO VERY HAPPY you saw this post. I literally got better in a few days when I went back to my brand Lamictal. I had to call my insurance and explain what happened. My doctors were also willing to support my need for Lamictal. I now have to pay a $70 copay instead of $5, but it’s better than being sick. Good luck- I suggest that you go to the right of the blog and read the entries under Lamictal- there are many that truly explain generics and how the information we receive is often skewed to generic use as it’s less expensive for insurance companies. Please know that I am NOT against generic medications- I know many who take them with no problem- but I do feel that we don’t receive the information needed when we are switched without a list of warning signs the drugs aren’t working. Please keep me posted on this. I hope that you get relief ASAP. Hang in there! Things can get better! Julie
Over 14 patients in our mental health practice have developed irritability, depression and mood instability after being forced by insurance to switch the generic lamotrogine. Contrary to what some think, generics are different in terms of bioavailability- absorption- and bioequivalence. The dose is required to be only 80-quite low- to 125% of the plasma concentration of brand name drugs, which must consistently be within the 5% range. There are no clinical studies or random controlled trials for any generics. They can be dangerous. I am working with a lawyer to see if a case can be developed against insurance, pharmaceutical management and pharmacy companies as this constitutes the practice of medicine- making a clinical decision without prescriptive authority, etc. Post if you are interested in considering participation in a possible class action suit. This is for all people on maintenance medication, not simply Lamictal. BTW seizure patients are having difficulty- sometimes life threatening- as well re: generic lamotrogine.