PricklyPear Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 I just started switching to the brand name Lamictal ODT from generic, and I'm having some odd experiences. I want to see if anyone has had a similar experience or has heard of something like it. I'm not sure if what I'm noticing is from the ODT vs tablet, from the brand name vs generic, both, or something unrelated. I'm having some stuff that I remember from titrating up: really strange and vivid dreams (not normal) that I can remember for the rest of the day after becoming fully awake (also not normal); sometimes restlessness that is sometimes very activity specific (right now I want to write); sometimes extreme fatigue, grogginess, and exhaustion; feeling like everything is sort of off, out of place, or strange; more distractability and difficulty focusing than usual. In general, I also feel much less depressed, and like I'm possibly skirting around the edge of a mixed state or mild hypomania. I also noticed that the first two doses of ODT I've taken have been activating for me, and that I was also a bit activated after taking the last generic tablet in between those doses. I experienced activation after taking Lamotrigine during titration but not at other times. This feels a bit like titrating up but not completely. I can't think of any other things that have changed significantly or could cause all of these things besides a medication change. I can't think of anything that would cause the changes in my dreams besides a medication change. Neither can my girlfriend. What I'm not experiencing that I remember from titration is being so completely exhausted, distractible, etc that I had to cancel everything I could for at least the first week. For context: I'm on 100 mg once a day. I've been taking it at night, but if it continues to be activating I will change that. I was using Dr. Reddys. I switched because I now need to take ODT instead of tablets due to an allergy to an inactive ingredient that is in all tablet forms currently on the market. Today is Tuesday. I took generic tablets until Friday night, took non-generic ODT on Saturday night bc of nausea, took my last generic tablet on Sunday night, and took non-generic ODT Monday night. I will be taking ODT from now on, and non-generic for at least the next 90 days. I may not always take the GlaxoSmithKline Lamictal, as I've heard that some companies have recently gotten approval to start manufacturing generic Lamotrigine ODT. I have one of those insurance companies that forces you to use generic and also puts Lamictal ODT in their highest priced tier. If I want, I am pretty sure my pdoc will do a "brand name is medically necessary" letter, and I doubt my insurance company would deny it. My copays are astronomically higher now, but if there is reason to think that both it being ODT and brand name are making a difference, I have no problem with that. I'm not sure yet if I would want to bother trying generic again if my insurance company doesn't make me. Has anyone experienced stronger effects when taking ODT instead of tablets? Or when taking name brand Lamictal instead of generic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinypunx Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 (edited) The first time I was at 100mg of lamotrigine, I switched from generic chewables (which I was also using to avoid an inactive ingredient in tablets, might be something for you to look into) to the brand Lamictal ODT. The very first thing I noticed was that it tasted about a zillion times better than the tablets or chewables. The next thing I noticed, after a brief adjustment period, was that it seemed to work better. It was more stabilizing I think... I don't remember whether I was more activated by it, though, it's possible. Lamotrigine seems to be a bit on the activating side in general for me, and worse at higher dosages. Anyway, I eventually went back to the generic chewables, which is what I take now, because it was easier to change dosages with, ODT didn't come in smaller increments I was aware of, and also because it was just cheaper. But I've again found myself at 100mg, and I do wonder if going back on the brand stuff would make me like it more. As things stand, I'd kind of rather try other things, as it doesn't help my manias/mixed states at all, and only mostly staves off depression... I guess it's been a good general stabilizer, and it does take a bit of the edge off of most episodes. I don't know. Mostly I just get wicked withdrawals whenever I try to reduce the dosage (including but not limited to unshakable suicidal ideation + feeling like I'm constantly dreaming, which is a BAD combo), so I'm stuck here for now. Edited December 17, 2013 by tinypunx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Has anyone experienced stronger effects when taking ODT instead of tablets? Or when taking name brand Lamictal instead of generic? Yes, I have. I also take Lamictal ODT, and found that my dose had to be reduced from 600 mg of the pill form to 400 mg of the ODT form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 Wow, I did not know that Lamictal came ODT. I am going to check into this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 Wow, I did not know that Lamictal came ODT. I am going to check into this Yes ... it tastes like a bland cherry cough syrup. But MUCH better than swallowing the regular pills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PricklyPear Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 I agree- it is a million times better than the pills. The ones I were taking were uncoated generic and about half the time they would get stuck on the first try and then I had that nasty pill taste. Not even orange juice would get rid of it, and that's usually my go to thing. To me they taste more like inexpensive cherry flavored candy. Not like actual cherries, but not bad at all.They're actually pretty good. The titration symptoms mostly stopped about a week or so ago. I do think it's working much better now. At least, I'm doing things it was much harder or impossible to do before, and actually waking up before 11 am on a consistent basis. For me at least, it definitely seems like I'm getting more medication or it's more effective now that I'm on ODT. Thanks for sharing your experiences tinypunx and melissaw72. I'm glad to know it's not just me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
25 o'clock Posted November 9, 2016 Share Posted November 9, 2016 My prescription drug plan switched me from the Lamictal tablet to a generic made by Dr. Reddy's. Taking the generic Lamictal made by Dr. Reddy's nearly put me in the hospital: I was out of my mind. And I've been pro-generic for over 40 years. So my doc switched me to Lamictal ODT. All was well until the drug plan switched me to the generic ODT. It was the worst tasting pharmaceutical I've ever had. Gritty, strong industrial chemical taste, pills breaking apart inside the bubble packaging. I immediately requested to go back on brand. Sorry, I didn't record the generic manufacturer, but it was from a company in India. I chose to switch to the Lamictal tablet for my convenience. (Thankfully ending all the time required to trim each pill bubble down to fit in my pill case) Now I'm on the brand tablet of 100 mg twice a day. FYI: Lamictal has been flagged as a "narrow therapeutic index" drug. That means the generic manufacturers have not been able to create an adequately effective generic drug. Synthroid has the same issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted November 9, 2016 Share Posted November 9, 2016 (edited) On 12/29/2013 at 2:26 AM, melissaw72 said: Yes ... it tastes like a bland cherry cough syrup. But MUCH better than swallowing the regular pills. Not sure if OP will see this or not, or if it matters, but FWIW ... I wanted to add that I have to increase the dose of the ODT lamotrigine to 600 mg since posting this, and the generic ODT lamotrigine I can't even spit it out when I place it on my tongue. My mouth wanted nothing to do with it ... and I literally couldn't even spit it out ... had to pick it off of my tongue to get it out of my mouth. And I just couldn't take that med. So pdoc ordered the real lamictal ODT, and I could/can take it without any problems. 4 hours ago, 25 o'clock said: All was well until the drug plan switched me to the generic ODT. Your DR can appeal this (at least in the US it can be) ... the real ODT wasn't covered for me either and pdoc appealed it, and I was prescribed it without a problem. 4 hours ago, 25 o'clock said: Gritty, strong industrial chemical taste, pills breaking apart inside the bubble packaging. I immediately requested to go back on brand. I agree with you totally ... the generic was truly intolerable for me for the same reasons. Edited November 9, 2016 by melissaw72 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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