[Rosie23]

I just started taking generic lamictal. Lamotrigine 100 mg. And it does not work near as well.
For financial reasons I do need to use the generic, but I am probably going to have to double the dose to get the same effect. I am disappointed to say the least. I thought generics were supposed to be the same?
Has anyone else noticed this?

[AniManiac]

The regulations on generics mean that the main drug substance in it (not filler) has to be within 80% - 120% of the brand name. So actually, there's quite a bit of variability there, which could lead to the generic not seeming as effective (or overeffective!) I started off with generics because that's what my insurance covers and it's my cheapest Rx ever - best value for money in my whole life - so I haven't noticed any such difference.

You probably won't need to actually double it, though, give those proportional ranges of active ingredients that the pills have to fall into. Talk to pdoc, maybe 150mg will do it? They might want you to go up by 50mg at a time anyway, rather than immediately doubling it - overshooting could trigger mania.

[tnlibrarian]

I haven't noticed it on Lamictal but I have noticed it with medications I've taken in the past for a stomach ulcer and with medications my children have taken. Talk to your doctor--it maybe you need a minor adjustment to the medication.

[ladymez]

I'm new to the forum but I agree w/ you Rosie. The Lamictal is very expensive for me so the dr switched me to Lamotrigine as well. I have to admit that I do overmedicate for that reason - Take 400 mgs instead of the 300 I was dosed for Lamictal, not that I'm saying it's right...It does work for me, but to a point -- it DOES keep me from comitting suicing and avoid my 3rd involuntary admission to the psych hospital...

[madisgram]

discussing this with pdoc may help.
as for my taking this generic, it's works well for me.

[33yankee33]

I'm on generic Lamictal, and it works well for me. But I've never had the name brand so I really have no basis for comparison. I would talk to my pdoc before over-dosing myself though.

[Rosie23]

And I bet if I had not used the Pdocs starter kit I would never have known either. I'm just disappointed that my mood has gone way downhill in 72 hours. I called the doc but they want me to try to wait until my appointment next Friday. Ugh. that's like eons away.
But I am going to guess that I will need to double my meds to get to where I was. Slowly of course.

AniManiac - I would never have known that the differences could be that high. You are truly a wealth of drug info. Thanks!

[Rosie23]

Well I decided the generic isn't worth it. I will suck up the cost difference to feel better. The generic brand for me is like taking benedryl that gives me a sore throat, makes me super cranky and I'm wired all at the same time.
I've never asked a pharmacy to take back a drug before and I have no idea if they will, but I'm going to ask.

[Cariad]

It is my understanding that lamotrigine is the name of the active ingredient therefore not really a generic name, although there is a a medication called Lamotrigine. All of the medications contain lamotrigine, and Lamictal is a brand name of one of them. A generic would be something like Lamidus. Some people do better on one than another because of the difference in the carrier/filler. I've taken Lamotrigine, Lamictal and am currently on Lamidus and have not noticed any difference between any of them.

[dragonfly2]

In the US, the generic name is the active ingredient name. Names such as Lamictal, Lamogine, Lamidus, and Lamictin are brand names. They all have the active ingredient of lamotrigine.

http://books.google.com/books?id=AnG...20name&f=false

[Rosie23]

After Ani's reply I went on line and discovered that not only can the amount of active ingredient be way off from the name brand that it can be really off from manufacturer to manufacturer.
I stopped at my pharmacy to ask questions. I told them that this manufacturer's generic version was causing me issues and they seem to be getting worse each day. But mostly what is a person supposed to do if say in 3 months they don't carry that brand any longer and I have to get a different one and that has even different effect.
The pharmacists eyes got as big as saucers and they scanned the people behind me who clearly heard my question and were waiting for an answer as well as I was.
She suggested that I try different manufactures until I found one that worked for me and then they would try to keep that in stock for me. Really???
I was feeling more stable than I had in years and in 48 hours that was taken away from because of a generic drug. I won't make that mistake again. I will suck up the extra 20 bucks.

[Cariad]

Thanks dragonfly2, probably the same here although my psych doesn't mind lamictal or lamotrogine yet considers the other brands to be generic so that is where I was coming from. Will have to ask him I've had no problem with either Lamictal or lamotrogine but Lamidus seems too weak

[Rosie23]

I had no idea. Thanks!

[Merlin]

I've always taken the generic version, so I wouldn't know. I did not know that there were differences in the active ingredient, but I know the difference in fillers can affect uptake of the active ingredients as well. I am sorry that the brand name doesn't work as well for you. I know that in some cases, if your pdoc specifies that the brand name is required for you, your insurance may be obligated to reimburse.

[JustWannaDisappear]

Originally Posted by Rosie23

I just started taking generic lamictal. Lamotrigine 100 mg. And it does not work near as well.
For financial reasons I do need to use the generic, but I am probably going to have to double the dose to get the same effect. I am disappointed to say the least. I thought generics were supposed to be the same?
Has anyone else noticed this?

I'm taking generic lamictal and didn't see any improvement until I went up to 200mg. Now I feel really good.

[notz]

I doubt the pharmacist was a conspirator, probably noticed the line behind you.

Originally Posted by Rosie23

After Ani's reply I went on line and discovered that not only can the amount of active ingredient be way off from the name brand that it can be really off from manufacturer to manufacturer.
I stopped at my pharmacy to ask questions. I told them that this manufacturer's generic version was causing me issues and they seem to be getting worse each day. But mostly what is a person supposed to do if say in 3 months they don't carry that brand any longer and I have to get a different one and that has even different effect.
...She suggested that I try different manufactures until I found one that worked for me and then they would try to keep that in stock for me. Really???
.... I will suck up the extra 20 bucks.

From reading of different people's experiences, for most of them, manufacturer does seem to matter. Like anything, what worked varied from person to person. I started out on brand (because at the time, I had insurance and wanted to know what I was comparing against later), take generic now and have for some time. It's worked as well for me. I did start with a specific manufacturer, and have stuck with it. And yup, my pharmacy knows this and accomodates it. To be on the safe side, I do call in refills a bit earlier so they have more time to be sure it's on hand and that I don't run out. This has only failed me once (mfg had a shortage, so it wasn't just them) and I had to call around to find one that could get me through the interim. That is very cool that the difference is only $20 for you! For me (no insurance), it is astronomically more (18x iirc), and therefore not an option.

I'm sorry they are wanting you to wait till Friday. Is it that they won't call in a DAW for brand before then? Any chance of samples?