Comments on: Generic Lamictal (lamotrigine) for bipolar disorder http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/newsletter-my-experience-with-generic-lamictal/ by Julie A. Fast Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:11:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Bobbi http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/newsletter-my-experience-with-generic-lamictal/comment-page-1/#comment-3563 Bobbi Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:52:25 +0000 http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/2009/02/08/newsletter-my-experience-with-generic-lamictal/#comment-3563 Meds don't like me..period. However, since reading this blog, I've begun to think that MAYBE the generic factor could be why I react to meds the way I do. Nearly ALL of the meds I've tried have been generic! The pharmacists have convinced me that generics are exactly the same---or are supposed to be. Hmmm.....Really appreciated the researched info and websites. I would also like to know what changed for you and how you knew the Lamictal was working. Could you think better? Was your anxiety better or what? Did it help you to sleep? Right now I feel like the only alternative I have is to just 'grit my teeth' and bear it on my own. Meds don’t like me..period. However, since reading this blog, I’ve begun to think that MAYBE the generic factor could be why I react to meds the way I do. Nearly ALL of the meds I’ve tried have been generic! The pharmacists have convinced me that generics are exactly the same—or are supposed to be. Hmmm…..Really appreciated the researched info and websites. I would also like to know what changed for you and how you knew the Lamictal was working. Could you think better? Was your anxiety better or what? Did it help you to sleep? Right now I feel like the only alternative I have is to just ‘grit my teeth’ and bear it on my own.

]]> By: Jen http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/newsletter-my-experience-with-generic-lamictal/comment-page-1/#comment-3562 Jen Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:27:14 +0000 http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/2009/02/08/newsletter-my-experience-with-generic-lamictal/#comment-3562 I finally have the answer!!! I have spent the last month VERY sick! Stomach pain, extreme nausea, extreme fatigue (to the point of falling asleep anywhere!), headache, dizziness/spacey feeling, crying spells and irritability /lashing out. I have spent over $1,000 on doctors and blood tests trying to figure out why I was having the stomach pains, nausea and fatigue. I was thinking it was my thyroid or stomach cancer or something along those lines! All the tests have come back normal. Then this morning it dawned on me... I was on Lamictal for 4 years and switched to generic a month ago!!! BINGO! I haven't felt this excited and alive in a month! Maybe now I can get my life back and be the mother and wife I was before! Everything has gone to crap since this started. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! I finally have the answer!!! I have spent the last month VERY sick! Stomach pain, extreme nausea, extreme fatigue (to the point of falling asleep anywhere!), headache, dizziness/spacey feeling, crying spells and irritability /lashing out. I have spent over $1,000 on doctors and blood tests trying to figure out why I was having the stomach pains, nausea and fatigue. I was thinking it was my thyroid or stomach cancer or something along those lines! All the tests have come back normal. Then this morning it dawned on me… I was on Lamictal for 4 years and switched to generic a month ago!!! BINGO! I haven’t felt this excited and alive in a month! Maybe now I can get my life back and be the mother and wife I was before! Everything has gone to crap since this started. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

]]> By: Janetta http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/newsletter-my-experience-with-generic-lamictal/comment-page-1/#comment-3279 Janetta Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:48:28 +0000 http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/2009/02/08/newsletter-my-experience-with-generic-lamictal/#comment-3279 My 16 year old daughter is on generic Lamontrigine because we use government insurance. The pharmacist will always give us the generic unless we make a fuss and pay extra for it. My daughters symptoms improved when I started giving her my meds, brand name,Lamictal when her prescription ran out....(yes I know, I wont let it happen again) Now I realise how important it is to make a BIG FUSS and pay extra for the brand name. We live in Canada and none of the doctors think there is any difference between generic and band name. If you can use less of any medication, that is a very important factor to consider. My 16 year old daughter is on generic Lamontrigine because we use government insurance. The pharmacist will always give us the generic unless we make a fuss and pay extra for it. My daughters symptoms improved when I started giving her my meds, brand name,Lamictal when her prescription ran out….(yes I know, I wont let it happen again)
Now I realise how important it is to make a BIG FUSS and pay extra for the brand name. We live in Canada and none of the doctors think there is any difference between generic and band name. If you can use less of any medication, that is a very important factor to consider.

]]> By: Neil Stegall http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/newsletter-my-experience-with-generic-lamictal/comment-page-1/#comment-3275 Neil Stegall Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:53:59 +0000 http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/2009/02/08/newsletter-my-experience-with-generic-lamictal/#comment-3275 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. 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.

]]> By: Admin http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/newsletter-my-experience-with-generic-lamictal/comment-page-1/#comment-3204 Admin Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:32:30 +0000 http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/2009/02/08/newsletter-my-experience-with-generic-lamictal/#comment-3204 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 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

]]> By: susan http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/newsletter-my-experience-with-generic-lamictal/comment-page-1/#comment-3203 susan Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:43:40 +0000 http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/2009/02/08/newsletter-my-experience-with-generic-lamictal/#comment-3203 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 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

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