Question for those taking LAMICTAL

What did your pills look like when you got your first refill?

On the Lamictal website they say to make sure you get the right pills because the name Lamictal is similar to other names and it's common to get the wrong medicine. They show photos of what the 25 mg is suppose to look like & my refill looks nothing like that, nor do they look like the 25 mg in my 5 week Blue starter kit.

I was under the impression that there was NOT a generic brand for Lamictal (thats what the pharmacy told me when my co-pay was more than normal). So shouldn't these 25 mg look the same as the last ones?

A quick response would be very much appreciated.

I have to start my higher dose on Saturday. One 25mg in the am and two 25mg in the evening.

Thanks

Zomese,

Like Serafena said all the pills are shaped like shields.  The 25mg are white, 100mg are peach/pinkish, and the 200mg are blue.

You should also take the bottle to the pharmacy and have them check and make sure you have the right medication.  You do not want to be taking something you shouldn't and especially since you feel uneasy about it.

Thanks for everyones response. I think I will take them to the pharmacy. My originals were shaped like the white shields and these are oval.

Thanks

Zomese,

I think that's right, I did not have insurance when I used to take Lamical and it used to be $250+ for 60 (100mg) pills.  The higher the quantity the cheaper it is per pill.

I have gotten generic versions that were much cheaper about $70, but they were from Canada.  Those were all white, even for the higher doses.

The Glaxo Smith Kline version is very expensive because it has not been around that long.  I think the Lamictal patent will run out soon or just run out recently.  I know they had a suit against Teva USA, that was just settled.

But if you were able to get the generic version, thats great.  It will make your wallet a lot thicker, since you don't have to pay out of pocket for it.

There is currently no generic for Lamictal. However, there have been some severe medication errors with pharmacists dispensing Lamisil (a drug for a fungal infection) instead of Lamictal.

You can always check with www.pdr.net (they give you the photos of the pills.

Hope this helps,
ckgMD