cloudmonger Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 (edited) I'm wondering if anyone here has felt a noticeable difference between the Glaxo-Smith Kline Lamictal and the Sandos brand (which is a generic?) My doctor said that they have the same bio-availability, only tiny difference is in the coating...He said the only issue he's seen is if you have been on a particular one for a long time and then switch. I am still titrating up around 75mg now (took GSK brand for a month), and the pharmacy gave me the Sandos brand this time. Has anyone here been on both brands & experienced any ill-effects from switching? Edited November 12, 2016 by cloudmonger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloudmonger Posted November 13, 2016 Author Share Posted November 13, 2016 Bumping this up - anyone felt a difference between brand Lamictal & Generics? I'm tempted to switch now & stay on generic due to savings on cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 Hi, I know it's been a few days since you posted this, but we don't bump. It can take a while for people to answer, especially if you aren't on the "Things That Make You Feel Like Shit" forum. I haven't been here for a few days, which happens. But I mod mood stabilizers, and read all the threads when I get back. Generics are theoretically the same as brand name, but of course it isn't that simple. Not just the coating, but the ingredients that are the "filler" of the pill/capsule can cause some people to not respond as well. Some people have a generic that works best for them, and even ask their pharmacy to buy it and use it as the pharmacy's generic. In general, I can take any generic, but when I took generic Tegretol, it made me completely crazy within two days; my pdoc switched me to brand name, and that is what I took while I was on it. HOWEVER, this was back in the good old days, before insurance companies ran medical care. Buying the brand name didn't have to be cleared, the way it does today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryp Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 Some recent studies have found that it seems to be the same (at least for epilepsy): http://www.mdedge.com/clinicalneurologynews/article/105307/epilepsy-seizures/aes-three-studies-show-generic-lamotrigine Personally I take brand name Lamictal. For non-psych meds, I'll take generics and whatever, but for psych stuff I always go for the brand just in case. Luckily, I have good insurance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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