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Introduction

Written by Malini Ghoshal, RPh, MS
Medically reviewed by Dena Westphalen, PharmD
Updated on May 17, 2023

Lamotrigine is a generic medication prescribed for seizure disorders and bipolar I disorder. Brand-name versions of this drug are Lamictal, Lamictal ODT, Lamictal CD, and Lamictal XR. The cost of lamotrigine with or without insurance depends on several factors. It might be lowered with a coupon.

Lamotrigine comes in these forms:

• tablets that are swallowed
• extended-release* tablets that are swallowed
• tablets that dissolve in the mouth
• tablets that are chewed and then swallowed
• tablets that can be made into a suspension (type of liquid mixture) that’s swallowed

Read on to learn about lamotrigine and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about lamotrigine, including its uses, refer to this overview article.

* Extended release means the drug is released into your body slowly over a period of time after you take the medication.

Cost of lamotrigine

Like other medications, the cost of lamotrigine can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use

To find out how much lamotrigine costs, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They may be able to suggest ways to save money on your prescription, including those described in this article. To find out what you’d pay using savings coupons, read the “Coupons for lamotrigine” section.

Coupons for lamotrigine

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of lamotrigine. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Available app for coupons

To make finding and using these coupons easier, you can download the Optum Perks app. To learn more about this prescription discount app, see this article.

Insurance and other considerations for lamotrigine

Here’s a list of things to consider about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Prior authorization. If you have prescription drug insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers the cost of lamotrigine. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for lamotrigine. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin taking it without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• A 3-month supply. If you’re taking lamotrigine long term, your doctor may suggest a 90-day supply of the medication. This will have to be approved by your insurance company. Getting a 90-day supply could help lower the drug’s cost. It could also save you time having to make trips to your pharmacy.

If you have questions about any of these considerations, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Or contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They may suggest online pharmacy options you could use. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Common questions about lamotrigine and cost

Here are some common questions about lamotrigine and their answers. 

Does lamotrigine 25 mg cost less than lamotrigine 200 mg?

It’s possible. The cost of lamotrigine 25 milligrams (mg) versus the cost of lamotrigine 200 mg depends on several factors.

The cost of different strengths of lamotrigine may depend on the form of the drug your doctor prescribes. It can also vary depending on whether you have insurance coverage.

For instance, lamotrigine oral tablets, which are taken by swallowing, come in the following strengths:

• 25 mg,
• 100 mg
• 150 mg
• 200 mg

Lamotrigine also comes in several other forms, and their strengths vary. These forms include:

• extended-release* tablets that are swallowed
• tablets that dissolve in the mouth
• tablets that are chewed and then swallowed
• tablets that can be made into a suspension (type of liquid mixture) that’s swallowed

The drug’s cost may also vary based on your dosage, the pharmacy you use, and whether you have insurance. In some cases, lamotrigine 25 mg may cost less than lamotrigine 200 mg.

If you have questions about the cost of lamotrigine, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They can give you more information about this.

* Extended release means the drug is released into your body slowly over a period of time after you take the medication.

Is there a cost difference between lamotrigine extended-release (ER) oral tablet and the drug’s other forms?

Maybe. The cost of lamotrigine ER* oral tablet compared with other forms of the drug may vary. It can depend on whether you have insurance coverage or are paying out of pocket. The cost also depends on your dosage and whether you have any coupons or can use discount programs.

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about the cost of lamotrigine forms.

* ER means the drug is released into your body slowly over a period of time after you take the medication.

Why are costs different for brand-name drugs vs. generic drugs?

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the studies needed to test how safe and effective they are.

Makers of a brand-name drug can sell their drug for up to 20 years. When the patent for a brand-name drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell generic versions. A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.)

This competition may help keep costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active drugs as brand-name medications. So they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly.

If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name and generic drugs, talk with your doctor.

Generics vs. brand-names

Lamotrigine is a generic medication. The brand-name versions of this drug are shown in the table below:

* Extended release means the drug is released into your body slowly over a period of time after you take the medication.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name versions.

If your doctor has prescribed lamotrigine but you’re interested in taking a brand-name version, let them know. They may prefer one medication over the other. Also, check whether your insurance plan covers only one version of the drug.

To learn how the cost of lamotrigine compares with its brand-name versions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company. 

What to ask about lamotrigine

This article provides cost information related to lamotrigine. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. Above on this page, you’ll find coupons for lamotrigine.

If you have more questions about paying for this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also contact your insurance company.

Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask regarding the cost of your medication:

• Does the form of lamotrigine prescribed affect my cost of the drug?
• Will my cost depend on my dosage of lamotrigine?
• Is the cost of brand-name Lamictal higher than that of generic lamotrigine forms?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Lamictal (lamotrigine) tablets, for oral use; Lamictal (lamotrigine) tablets for oral suspension; Lamictal ODT (lamotrigine) orally disintegrating tablets, for oral use. (2021). fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/020241s064,020764s057,022251s028lbl.pdf
• Lamictal XR (lamotrigine) extended-release tablets, for oral use. (2021). fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/022115s029lbl.pdf
• Lamotrigine tablets for oral use. (2023). nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/84277e2c-370c-4510-92bc-ef33a4a0f508/spl-doc
• Lamotrigine extended release tablets for oral use. (2023). nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/faccacb7-65f1-cb00-e053-6394a90a9fcb/spl-doc

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.