[spoiltmom]

I finally see my Pdoc next Monday.

We discussed Lamictal before and that will probably be my next step. I've been researching it and I'm wondering, those of you on Lamictal, do you take plain Lamictal or Lamictal XR??

My insurance is saying I can get plain Lamictal for $7.00 a month but they do not cover the XR version. It would cost me $210.00 a month. I definitely can NOT afford that.

Does the plain Lamictal work just as well as the XR?

[Clinte89]

I dont know if they work differently but Im on plain lamictal and it works great for me no problems with it at all. I would recomend you push for regular because the xr is so much more expensive.

[spoiltmom]

How many times a day do you take the regular?

[spoiltmom]

Okay, even more confused after looking at my prescription drug formulary on my insurance.

What is the difference between: Lamictal, Lamictal XR and Lamotrigine ER? Is Lamotrigine ER just a generic for Lamictal XR?

My PDoc sucks so if I don't ask for the correct RX at my visit then he will make me schedule another appointment for a new script and his appointments are ALWAYS 6-8 weeks out.

I'm trying to find the cheapest form of Lamictal with my RX plan so I will know what will be best for me cost wise before my appointment.

Yes, I think Lamotrigine ER is just the generic form of Lamictal EX.

Lamictal is the tradename for Lamotrigine.

I never took an extended release form of it. One small dosage each day was
very adequate. You could probably get along quite well with the generic form of extended release, Lamotrigine ER. I can't imagine that your insurance wouldn't cover that. You seem to have a good policy.

I took small dosage of Lamictal for several months, kept reducing the dosage because even 15 mg. caused mild hypomania. I was finally dropped from the med for that reason and for the fact that I developed acne (and I am far beyond the age when one would naturally develop acne!)

It's a superior medication if you can take it. (That's probably a statement one would make of all medications.) It's best to take the lowest dosage you can to stabilize your chemistry and then to go pro-active on your own to help supplement your system with the things that medications drain from your nutrition when they are being metabolized.

Increase your trace minerals and high quality multiple vitamins. If you begin to
develop symptoms with high acidity from acidic ash of medications, try to lower your high acid foods and eat more alkaline foods. (See http://www.Alkalinefoods.com)

Recent psychiatric publications indicate now that the Omega 3 fatty acids
may be the first really effective treatment for bipolar disorder. (They are
wonderful for me; I use the Nordic Omega 3 fatty acids. Their pleasant
lemon taste is appealing. There are many, many different ones, however.)
Just be sure to get a vitamin E supplement if the Omegas don't have it added so that the fatty acids are metabolized well.

Drink plenty of water and if you are sensitive to caffeine or alcohol, please remove them from your diet. Both cause the illness to become worse in people who are sensitive to them.

Be good and take care of yourself first.

Good wishes.

[spoiltmom]

Thanks It looks like my plan will cover all the versions but my copay is the cheapest for the Lamotrigine. The Lamotrigine ER is much higher and then it gets even higher for the brand name.

[Odee]

I had no idea that there was any extended release versions of Lamictal. I take generic once a day and it has been doing me a lot of good. I get it for $10 a month, what a steal!

If you feel as though the effects from lamotrigine fade off from once a day dosing, you can split pills or just ask to be prescribed smaller doses to be taken at different times of the day.

Extended release versions of meds are just a way to extend the patent for the original drug manufacturer. Generic works just fine.