From 2009…..
I’m just plain worn out!
I honestly think that switching to the generic Lamotrigine (Lamictal) has made me more tired. I know it has increased my other side effects. As I’ve said in a lot of other posts, it’s working exactly the same as Lamictal in terms of mood swings. Which is good! But I am not myself physically. I am sure this will end, but it’s definitely proof that generics are not the same as the original product in terms of the non active ingredients. If you look under the Lamictal category on the right, you can read some great discussions on what it was like for those of us who went from Lamictal to generic Lamotrigine!
I wonder who else has had trouble changing to a generic? I’m not even sure if trouble is the right word as the meds are working, but I do know we should get more information when we have to switch!
Julie
PS: It’s very interseting to read this post in retrospect. The generic Lamotrigine stopped working for me and I got quite ill. I petitioned my insurance company and went back on Lamictal.
Others made the transition from Lamictal to Lamotrigine very smoothly.
Our bodies are not the same. Find the brand/generic that works for you and insist that you get what you need.
I had to stop taking the generic due to the taste. I found it worse than the brand. I could not hold down the generic. So now my dr. writes brand on my prescriptions. I don’t particulary care for the taste of the Lamictal when it starts to disolve before I am able to swallow it, however, for me, it’s not as bad as the generic.
My 13 yr old son has been taking Depakote for years. This summer when I went to the pharmacy to pick up his scrip it was the generic and I was told that my insurance no longer covered the name brand. Having had a bad experience when I, myself had to switch from Wellbutrin to generic, I was already weary but figured I didn’t have much choice. I didn’t notice the difference at first as it takes sometimes weeks for the medication to leave your system, and even forgot about it. After a few weeks my son started becoming more and more agitated. One day, after not getting his way, he pushed his 9 yr old sister, who, at the time was holding a slushie and standing on the ceramic tile floor. The push caused her to spill the drink onto the floor and she slipped and did a face plant into a nearby wall. I freaked and called the police, in an attempt to teach him he could not do this again. After explaining he was bipolar, the officers asked if he was taking his meds and that’s when it donned on me. I immediately called his pdoc and got her to call the pharmacy. It took several weeks to get his levels back up but he finally evened out again. Unfortunately for us though, he is now on probation for assaulting his sister because I called the police for help. This has cost me a couple hundred dollars and time off from work to cart him to and from his commmunity service. This is what you get when you ask for help from the police, but that’s a whole ‘nother story.