Lamictal and me

We’ve been together a long time. But I ran out of you yesterday and I’m still waiting for the dr to call in a refill!

Seriously though will
I be ok to miss 2-3 doses? I take it am and pm.

I ran out a couple of months ago. I had only 1/2 a dose one night. The next day I felt so strange...no way to put it, except that I felt like I was high. Plain old, I just smoked some weed, high. A very unexpected feeling.

The thing about Lamictal, though, is that if you miss more than 2 doses it's not safe to start at your usual dose. You're supposed to drop the dose down and titrate up. I hope you don't miss more than 2, because I don't think it's safe and I would bet you won't feel well, at all.

This is what I found “ If you miss a dose of lamotrigine, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is closer to the time of your next dose. ... Do not double your dose or take more than what is prescribed. If you miss more than 3 days of medication, contact your prescriber because he/she may need to adjust your dose.“

I think there is a debate in the medical field about how long you can go without lamictal before having to restart it. Some professionals say 4 days is ok, some say 3 days is fine, while others say 2 is the max. For example, my first pdoc said 4 days is ok, while my current one says 3. I personally go with whatever is the smallest number (which happens to be 2) because I don't like to risk it.

I'm actually more concerned about withdrawal seizures. Even if you've never had seizures before, you can get withdrawal seizures from missing too many doses in a row.

I think Hallie should call her doctor or the pharmacy to get someone to prescribe the lamictal ASAP. Most people forget about the withdrawal seizures and only focus on SJS.

Sometimes pharmacies, if they know you well, will allow you to take home a small amount of meds even if you don't have an active Rx. Also, many pdoc offices typically have someone available to write a script if you need something urgently. You just have to call and ask for someone to prescribe it. But of course if Hallie doesn't go to an office with multiple pdocs, that may not be an option.

My pharmacy is a small, locally owned one. They will forward enough pills for a couple of doses.

The withdrawal seizures that can happen with psych meds always scares me.

My pdoc is extremely cautious about Lamictal. Maybe she's had a patient who has had SJS. When I first started Lamictal I had a tiny rash on my forehead. I had the feeling it was not dangerous. My pdoc was really concerned (like, freaking out) and called the clinic's dermatologist to check out the rash. I had to wait for almost an hour for him to come to her office, because she told me to sit on the couch and not move around. He said the rash wasn't anything dangerous.

It was kind of amusing, but I also saw how seriously she took the possibility of SJS.

Hallie, what's happening with your Lamictal?

I’ve already called my dr office and the pharmacy. If he doesn’t get back today they’re gonna give me three day supply

That's great your pharmacy is going to give you some Lamictal tablets!

Sorry to hear you're waiting so long for an actual prescription, though. Hopefully you can get one by the end of the week.

I had the rash-only component of SJS due very likely to 400 mg qd. No recent changes and had been on it for three years. It can happen any time.

That's great, Hallie!

Quote:

Originally Posted by bpcyclist I had the rash-only component of SJS due very likely to 400 mg qd. No recent changes and had been on it for three years. It can happen any time.

I had no idea, thought it could only happen during the beginning treatment with Lamictal. Good info to know.

Glad your pharmacy will do 3 day advance..

Golden rule of Lamictal more than 3 days off you have to start over from day one 25-50 mg and titrate up as you did when first put on it, due to risk of SJS ( Stevens Johnson Syndrome)

You will be fine with them offering 3 day advance.. Are all your meds set for auto refill.? My Walmart offers that, My insurance allows for refills 3 days in advance, Ask to have yours to set auto refills, That way if there is something with no refills they can send fax to your Doctor before you even run out.

This has never happened before actually.

I have it set to fill monthly and got ALL my other meds except lamictal. So typically this would not happen. For some reason all my psych meds had refills except this one.

I never got confirmation it was filled
Today.

I've gone like 3 days without and been fine.

Pdoc said not to reach the 5 day mark. Had to titrate from my current 100mg up when my RX was messed up first month of lockdown and I only got half my Lamictal, lucky I made it last, but still didn't have enough in my system so had to titrate unfortunately..

I'll weigh in here for an idea that helped me not run out.
When my dosage was 300Mg a day i got my Pdoc to prescribe 400 Mg a day.
This got me ahead and gave me a buffer for a few weeks.

My doc was all on board with this but I was her patient for about 5 years.

It was filled today. I’m
Good

When I was young (college), and very, very stupid, I really screwed up taking my lamictal. I was young and feeling better so I basically stopped taking it. Well then (and I’m not sure exactly how long after) I decided for unknown reasons I needed it and just took the same dose outright. I was too young and naive to consider any consequences. Well, I nearly blacked out. I started stammering down the hall and eventually fell, and every time I tried to get up, I just fell back down. 2 professors walked me, one on each arm, to the closest office where I proceeded to vomit uncontrollably until I was simply dry heaving uncontrollably. They took me to the er by ambulance where I spent the night (once I was there they gave me some good medicine that totally knocked me out but I have no idea what it was). I cost my mom and dad a stupid amount of money for no reason. I also had a milder but still miserable version of this happen early on taking the medicine when there was some dosing issue. Be very, very careful messing with this one. It can really, really mess you up!