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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by NCDR on June 28, 2009, at 19:38:10
I have been having bumps of two kinds on my tongue since early Feb: white in the middle crevice (mid tongue) and then just bumps--on tip of tongue. Both kinds are painful. I have been to my GP twice and she said she thought it was a food allergy and said to watch spicy foods, etc. My psychiatrist didn't think it was med related, but I didn't think to ask him re: generic.
I just put it together that early Feb was when I started to be given generic Lamictal by my medication provider (one of those mail order houses) rather than brand name Lamictal. Could that be causing this? Only other med I'm on is Equetro (time release Tegretol), but I'd been on that combo since summer 2008 with no problems until Feb. Any ideas or experience?
Posted by yxibow on June 29, 2009, at 4:42:30
In reply to Generic Lamictal--cause of tongue problems?, posted by NCDR on June 28, 2009, at 19:38:10
> I have been having bumps of two kinds on my tongue since early Feb: white in the middle crevice (mid tongue) and then just bumps--on tip of tongue. Both kinds are painful. I have been to my GP twice and she said she thought it was a food allergy and said to watch spicy foods, etc. My psychiatrist didn't think it was med related, but I didn't think to ask him re: generic.
>
> I just put it together that early Feb was when I started to be given generic Lamictal by my medication provider (one of those mail order houses) rather than brand name Lamictal. Could that be causing this? Only other med I'm on is Equetro (time release Tegretol), but I'd been on that combo since summer 2008 with no problems until Feb. Any ideas or experience?
I wasn't aware they were marketing a time release -- Trileptal has far fewer side effects than Tegretol though. But that's possibly a reason for the extended release other than patent extending, I'm not sure.
Generic lamotrigine is commonplace now... I so far have gotten what I believe is the Teva brand from image pictures.
I'm not sure that spicy foods necessarily have anything to do with allergies -- its commonplace to be told to avoid those when you're sick or nauseated.. but who knows.I have doubts it has anything to do with the generic Lamictal, that is a sort of rare place I would think to see anything remotely suggestive of SJS or any rash like things which I think usually show up externally first.
Nevertheless, you might want to be referred to a dermatologist/allergist to further investigate it if it continues.
It is true in medicine to suspect the last thing that happened, but you're still getting lamotrigine, it just may be at a slightly (yes, we can get into arguments about generics) different concentration than you had before.
Have you observed any change in mood or depression that would suggest something to do with the Lamictal, which is generally used for both ?
Posted by morganpmiller on June 29, 2009, at 4:56:43
In reply to Re: Generic Lamictal--cause of tongue problems? » NCDR, posted by yxibow on June 29, 2009, at 4:42:30
I hated Lamictal..Overrated drug in my opinion. I also would never use generic of any psychoactive drug, especially something as powerful as lamotrigine.
Have you tried a low dose depakote/lithium combo. It's been pretty sweet for me so far.
Lamictal does not do any of those things that depakote and lithium do like promote neurogenesis.
Lamictal binds to the melanin in your skin and eyes.
Lamictal depletes your body of folic acid. Depakote can do this as well, but at least depakote is neuroprotective, increases BDNF, and promotes neurogenesis in a few areas of the brain including the hippocampus.The main reason most do not tolerate depakote and lithium is because they are on way too high of a dose for way too long. The super high doses should be used for acute mania. Much lower doses can be very effective for maintaining mood.
I would not be surprised if Lamictal is causing your tongue problems. I heard of all sorts of crazy side effects from this drug. Lamictal is NOT the new wonder drug for bipolar that it is made out to be.
Posted by NCDR on June 29, 2009, at 9:48:53
In reply to Re: Generic Lamictal--cause of tongue problems? » NCDR, posted by yxibow on June 29, 2009, at 4:42:30
I have had no change in mood. However, I take the Equetro (time release Tegretol) for a mood stabilizer and the Lamictal in order to help me recuperate from depression. As explained to me, mood stabilizers (depakote, lithium, etc) keep you within a certain range of emotions. However, if for some reason you bottom out anyway, they cannot bring you back up to "normal" range by themselves. Thus the need for Lamictal.
By the way, with Equetro, I have discovered that if I am really, really stressed, it is possible for me to start to go hypo manic. And it does not seem to help to increase it by itself. I've been prescribed Ativan to bring me back down. Only had to use it once this entire year so that is not the cause.
As far as allergies, I have tried eliminating foods that I knew I ate right before "bumps" appeared and it hasn't helped. So either it has to be a food we haven't hit upon yet or something else.
Thanks for your thoughtful and thorough response.
Posted by NCDR on June 29, 2009, at 9:58:51
In reply to Re: Generic Lamictal--cause of tongue problems?, posted by morganpmiller on June 29, 2009, at 4:56:43
Please see my previous response posted just a minute ago. I was originally prescribed depakote and lamictal--depakote for mood stabilizer/mania preventer and lamictal (as explained in previous post)for depression recovery/depression preventer. I have tried depakote (gained TONS of weight and was starving all the time. Read article that proved there was scientific reason for feeling starving. So got off). Then I tried Zyprexa and then Geodon. Both of them started to cause Tardive dyskinesia. I actually changed psych. doc (after 10 yrs) in order to find one who would help me. I work in a job where I have a public speaking role and sometimes a counseling role. Grimacing is not appropriate there and could lose me clients.
So, new doc changed me to Equetro (Tegretol time release) but kept the Lamictal. He didn't change me to generic, nor did pharmacy. Insurance Co. has new mail order requirement and THEY changed my meds. because it's cheaper for me (and of course for them!).
Sounds like maybe I should talk to doc about changing from Lamictal totally to something else for that reason. But I've been on Lamictal 11 years, but always name brand. I've never had problems with it before.
Thanks for your thoughtful response to my post.
Posted by Phillipa on June 29, 2009, at 10:39:02
In reply to Re: Generic Lamictal--cause of tongue problems?, posted by NCDR on June 29, 2009, at 9:58:51
Some others have also reported generic lamictal doesn't seem to work as well as namebrand. I had excessive spitting on namebreand lamictal to the point where I carried a cup so had to go off it was for booster for depression anxiety. Phillipa
Posted by sam K on June 29, 2009, at 14:39:14
In reply to Generic Lamictal--cause of tongue problems?, posted by NCDR on June 28, 2009, at 19:38:10
I mean it gives me weird stuff. Im 18 and I get terrible joint pain to the point where I cant run and its real painful in my shins. And it makes me crave fatty foods. It releases the food binger in me. I guess it helps but I want to try brand name sooner or later.
Posted by Jay_Bravest_Face on June 29, 2009, at 17:42:45
In reply to Generic Lamictal--cause of tongue problems?, posted by NCDR on June 28, 2009, at 19:38:10
I highly doubt it has anything to do with being on a generic. Does your GP know you are on these meds? If you are getting meds from offshore pharmacies, you should be careful, as recent investigations have shown many of these to sell either bogus, dangerous and/or inappropriate amount of ingredients in their pills.
But, I greatly understand your desire to find a med that works. I wish you the best of luck...
Jay
Posted by yxibow on June 30, 2009, at 3:03:57
In reply to Re: Generic Lamictal--cause of tongue problems? » NCDR, posted by Jay_Bravest_Face on June 29, 2009, at 17:42:45
> I highly doubt it has anything to do with being on a generic. Does your GP know you are on these meds? If you are getting meds from offshore pharmacies, you should be careful, as recent investigations have shown many of these to sell either bogus, dangerous and/or inappropriate amount of ingredients in their pills.
I would agree... I um... have obtained prescriptions that are shipped from the US and I could tell by looking up the doctor in the state registry and also the pill stamp and the pharmacy (which happens to be a US mail order pharmacy) that it was legit (well in a manner of speaking)....
....but someone in a certain foreign country is making a bundle by proxy as I could see through multiple domain name lookups.
Now the ones that ship direct from some odd country, better be prepared to have knowledge of what the pills really are. Yes, big drug companies that have approved products in multiple countries make their brand name pharmaceuticals in other regions.
I think the poster meant one of those 90 day mail-order pharmacies (like the one I encountered through this circuitous web-deal) are approved by whichever (US) insurance company and there is a discount incentive to use them as there is little pharmacist overhead and prices are wholesale.
At least I hope so.-- Jay
Posted by morganpmiller on July 1, 2009, at 1:42:26
In reply to generic lamictal is shady.., posted by sam K on June 29, 2009, at 14:39:14
> I mean it gives me weird stuff. Im 18 and I get terrible joint pain to the point where I cant run and its real painful in my shins. And it makes me crave fatty foods. It releases the food binger in me. I guess it helps but I want to try brand name sooner or later.
Dude get on the brand name ASAP..if the side effects don't go away get off that crap and find something else. No doctor should keep you on a drug when you are noticing those types of side effects.
Posted by yxibow on July 2, 2009, at 1:56:41
In reply to generic lamictal is shady.., posted by sam K on June 29, 2009, at 14:39:14
> I mean it gives me weird stuff. Im 18 and I get terrible joint pain to the point where I cant run and its real painful in my shins. And it makes me crave fatty foods. It releases the food binger in me. I guess it helps but I want to try brand name sooner or later.
When did you start noticing this? Have you always taken generic lamotrigine or did you start with Lamictal?Joint and muscular pain are rare but noted effects of any form of Lamictal. It may have caught up with you...
This might be a case I hate to say of causality is not always causation...
-- Jay
Posted by SLS on July 2, 2009, at 2:25:43
In reply to generic lamictal is shady.., posted by sam K on June 29, 2009, at 14:39:14
> I mean it gives me weird stuff. Im 18 and I get terrible joint pain to the point where I cant run and its real painful in my shins. And it makes me crave fatty foods. It releases the food binger in me. I guess it helps but I want to try brand name sooner or later.
I was born and raised on GSK Lamictal. However, I was recently switched over (due to a prescibing error) to generics for almost two months. Neither the Teva brand nor the Mylan brands of generic lamotrigine treated me as well as the original Lamictal. I found Teva to be better than Mylan. With Mylan, I needed to take 500mg to equal the 200mg I normally take of GSK, and I still didn't feel as well on it. Once I was switched back to the GSK brand Lamictal, I felt better, although it took about a week to fully recover.
- Scott
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