mel1 Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 I am in such a quandry. (sp?) I go to a county mental health place (can we get an acronym please-CMHP). That's where I get my pills. I was given a free 60 day supply of lamictal with a voucher. Unfortunately, they only fill prescriptions one month at a time. And the coupon can only be used once. so, as a result of these asshats, I am going to be out of lamictal for a month unless i come up with 500-600 $ for the rx. No way can I do that. I'm not working and I don't have ins. I go to pdoc next week and I'm going to try to get on something else because this med. is killing me. I don't even think it does anything for me. And how the hell do you come off of Lamictal quickly???? Aren't you supposed to go off sllloooowwwwllllyyyyyy..........?I don't want to have a seizure. I was even thinking about Lithium as a substitute. I also take abilify-7.5 mg., klonopin-.5 TID. I am on 300 mg. of lamictal. They don't have samples at the CMHP. I'm so screwed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cetkat Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 I don't know what you should sub it with.. but just so you know, I went cold turkey off of Lamictal at 100mg before without a problem. I was also on Lithium at the time, though. If I were you.. I'd probably go down to 100mg morning and night, then 100mg morning.. then off. Just so you get some sort of titration. It also might be a good idea to take the Lithium anyway, if there's not another stabilizer that they're putting you on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirMarshall Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 If possible its best to taper off Lamictal, but urgent cases may dictate going cold turkey. A months worth of lamictal is certainly plenty of time to taper for most people. The risk of seizures is completely individual and cannot be predicted. However, if you have never had any seizure problems that makes it less likely. Supplemental lithium would help with mood swings, but will do nothing to prevent seizures as it is not an anticonvulsant. Good luck. p.s. Check for another pharmacy that might honor a 60 day script, or go back to the county facility, explain the problem and exchange it for two 30 day scripts. a.m. [edit] Your lengthy list of meds leaves me scratching my head. Seems like there must be a number of overlaps in that group. Depakote comes to mind (and isn't on either your present of former lists) as a logical alternative. It is available as a generic; it's one of the Big Three for bipolar, and is very fast acting for mania. Granted it has a few side side effects, but it is an effective drug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel1 Posted November 1, 2007 Author Share Posted November 1, 2007 The pharmacy called and they have my prescription ready and my PAP was approved. They made me freak out for nothing! I still might go off lamictal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 Once you're on the PAP for Lamictal (Bridges to Access), it's pretty straightforward. They'll mail future rx in 90d supplies to you or to your clinic. Just make sure you get the financial stuff to them per their deadlines (you'll get a letter.) Renewing each year isn't that difficult. The 'advocate'/clinic does need to call to re-authorize if they change dosages. Your prescriber might or might not know that (probably does if working at a CMHC), so you might remind them if they increase the dose. Lamictal is a pretty novel anticonvulsant and doesn't swap out easily with others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest_Elizabeth_* Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I am in such a quandry. (sp?) I go to a county mental health place (can we get an acronym please-CMHP). That's where I get my pills. I was given a free 60 day supply of lamictal with a voucher. Unfortunately, they only fill prescriptions one month at a time. And the coupon can only be used once. so, as a result of these asshats, I am going to be out of lamictal for a month unless i come up with 500-600 $ for the rx. No way can I do that. I'm not working and I don't have ins. I go to pdoc next week and I'm going to try to get on something else because this med. is killing me. I don't even think it does anything for me. And how the hell do you come off of Lamictal quickly???? Aren't you supposed to go off sllloooowwwwllllyyyyyy..........?I don't want to have a seizure. I was even thinking about Lithium as a substitute. I also take abilify-7.5 mg., klonopin-.5 TID. I am on 300 mg. of lamictal. They don't have samples at the CMHP. I'm so screwed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancesintherain Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 this may be dumb...but I'm assuming you have looked into the generic (lamotrigine)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Elizabeth Lode Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 http://www.bridgestoaccess.com/ Bridges to Access, GlaxoSmithKline Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirMarshall Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 *****Hang on Gang. An unknown guest bumped this thread. It is a year and a half old. Issue resolved. In fact I think I'lll lock the thread. you are welcome to start new threads. please! a.m. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Elvis Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 there's nothing wrong with adding new info to old threads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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