Lamotrigine xr? Duration?

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MuayThaiFighter

MuayThaiFighter

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I started Lamotrigine, and I have taken this medication before but I never gave it much of a chance. They want to get me up to at least 200 mgs. At one time I was given the name brand samples of the XR, which made things less confusing.

Here are my questions, sorry guys, just can't find the answers anywhere.

1. Does the generic that is non xr work for the entire day or does it wear off for you? Do they typically make you take it in at two different times in the day?

2 Did you feel any different on the Lamcital XR? I am assuming they dont make an extended release for the generic.

I read previous posts about lamictal and lamotrigine on here, useful info. Just curious about the above question. I am going to call the pharmacist to clarify some things.
 
Good questions. :) I've wondered myself. If I'm on 150 mg daily, and I split my dose, wouldn't I have 75 mg in my system at a time...??? Anyways....I'm no expert but from what I gather, the pill should be split and taken in 2 doses. I'm on the generic and I usually take it whole. I don't notice any different feelings from when I was on the XR. Perhaps it does wear off during the night.

No, no generic XR vailable...I don't think.

The main issue I've had with the generic is a 25 lb weight gain since I began taking it in Dec 2011. :(
 
The Dr is having me get up to 100 initially so I think I get what he's doing now. Get on 100 in the morning and 100 in the evening. I think it usually is split in two doses.

Thanks for the info, this is one of the more confusing medications with dosing. I remember hearing that lamictal can either make you gain weight or lose weight. Hopefully this holiday we both don't gain more haha! (Thanksgiving always gets me)
 
I am on Lamictal XR, and it's the only XR I've taken. I take it once a day in the evening, and I haven't had any problems with it wearing off. But then again, I also have been taking Keppra the entire time (which WAS wearing off before I was put on the XR version, and I always had auras right before my morning/evening dose - this was before Lamictal).

As for the weight thing, well, I did feel my appetite increase a bit, but it increased to normal levels, as the other meds I was on decreased my appetite. I haven't gained any weight (yet), and have actually a little weight, but I think it's more of a result of running/eating healthy than the medication. Since this whole diagnosis and all these new medications, I haven't been drinking alcohol and I've been eating mostly natural foods to take care of myself the best I can, so I don't think Lamictal had anything to do with it.
 
I was told the difference in XR medications and non-xr medications is that they the XR medications last longer, compared to the regular medications. For me, I was on Keppra prior to starting the Keppra XR and was having really bad headaches. They thought it was due to the morning dose I was taking, wasnt staying in my system long enough til the night dose came, causing seizure symptoms to want to come about. So, they switched me over the Keppra XR and since taking the Keppra XR Ive had no problems. But I take my Keppra XR in the morning and at night. Not just once a day.

When I tried lamictal, I started out taking (1) 25mg tablet twice a day, the next week, went up to (2) 25mg tables twice a day.... and so forth, til they wanted to get to (4) 25mg tablets twice a day, which would make it 200mgs a day... but I didnt make it that far since I had the severe reaction when I was at the second week of trying it. So I got up to 50mgs twice a day... so 100mgs a day. That was the highest Ive been on the medication.
 
I have been on lamotrigine for several years. I originally started on the lamictal but was soon changed to the generic. Of coursr, the doctor had no problems with me taking generic. Several months ago he asked me if I wanted to be part of a study on how the time release of the lamictal compared to the generic form. I was prepared to take part in the study until they found out I take the meds three times a day. (100mg. 3x a day) They were looking for patients that took the meds only twice a day. So obviously there must be something that relates to when you take the meds or they would not be doing these forms of studies.
 
I'm on the generic Lamotrigine, non-XR version. I take it twice a day. I'm on 150mgs/day, so I take 75mg (three 25mg pills) in the morning and 75mg at night. I like being on the divided dose, since It gives me flexibility to make adjustments (for example, if I travel into a different time zone).

I was on the brand before. I didn't have any problems making the switch, and haven't noticed any difference between the two in terms of seizure control or side effects.
 
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