Having trouble finding Vimpat at your pharmacy? Learn why Vimpat (Lacosamide) can be hard to find in 2026 and what you can do to get your prescription filled.
You rely on Vimpat (Lacosamide) to control your seizures. So when your pharmacy tells you they're out of stock — or can't get it for several days — the frustration is real. For people living with epilepsy, a gap in medication isn't just an inconvenience. It's a safety concern.
The good news is that Vimpat is not impossible to find. But depending on where you live, which formulation you need, and whether you take brand-name or generic, the search can take some extra effort. In this article, we'll break down the most common reasons Vimpat can be hard to find and give you practical steps to get your prescription filled.
Vimpat is the brand name for Lacosamide, an anticonvulsant medication made by UCB Pharma. It's FDA-approved to treat partial-onset (focal) seizures in patients as young as 1 month old. It can be used on its own or alongside other seizure medications.
Vimpat works by enhancing the slow inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels in the brain, which helps calm overactive nerve signals that cause seizures. It's available as tablets (50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, and 200 mg), an oral solution, and an IV formulation for hospital use.
Because Vimpat is a Schedule V controlled substance, pharmacies must follow additional rules when ordering and dispensing it — which can sometimes slow things down.
There are several reasons you might have trouble getting your Vimpat prescription filled. Here are the most common ones:
As a Schedule V medication, Vimpat is subject to DEA regulations. Pharmacies have limits on how much controlled substance inventory they can order, and some pharmacies — especially smaller chains — may not keep Vimpat in regular stock if they don't have many patients on it. This means they need to place a special order, which can take 1-3 business days.
The pharmaceutical supply chain has faced ongoing challenges since 2020. While Vimpat oral tablets are generally available in 2026, specific strengths or the oral solution formulation may occasionally be on backorder from certain distributors. The IV formulation has historically been more prone to intermittent shortages.
Generic Lacosamide became available in 2022, and most pharmacies now stock the generic rather than brand-name Vimpat. If your prescription specifies "brand name only" or "dispense as written," your pharmacy may not have it on the shelf. Conversely, if you specifically need brand Vimpat and the pharmacy only carries generic, you could face a delay.
Some insurance plans require prior authorization before they'll cover Vimpat, especially for the brand-name version. If your pharmacy runs the claim and it gets rejected, you may think the drug isn't available — when really it's an insurance issue, not a supply issue. Ask your pharmacist to clarify whether the problem is stock or coverage.
If you're struggling to find Vimpat, here are some practical steps:
Instead of calling pharmacy after pharmacy, use Medfinder to search for Vimpat availability near you in real time. It's free and can save you hours of phone calls.
Independent and specialty pharmacies often have more flexibility in their ordering. They may be able to get Vimpat faster than large chain pharmacies, especially for less common strengths or formulations. Learn more in our guide on how to find Vimpat in stock near you.
If you're taking brand-name Vimpat and having trouble finding it, ask your doctor if generic Lacosamide is an option. Generic versions are more widely stocked and can cost as little as $30 to $150 per month compared to $900+ for the brand. Check out our guide to saving money on Vimpat for more tips.
Don't wait until you're down to your last few pills. Try to request refills at least 7-10 days before you run out. This gives your pharmacy time to order the medication if it's not currently in stock. For a controlled substance like Vimpat, early planning is especially important.
If Vimpat remains consistently hard to find in your area, your neurologist may be able to switch you to a similar medication. Options like Brivaracetam (Briviact), Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), or Levetiracetam (Keppra) treat similar types of seizures. Read more about alternatives to Vimpat.
Finding Vimpat shouldn't feel like a scavenger hunt — but in 2026, it sometimes does. The combination of controlled substance rules, insurance hurdles, and occasional supply chain issues can make getting your seizure medication harder than it should be.
The key takeaway: most Vimpat availability problems are solvable. Use tools like Medfinder to check pharmacy stock, ask about generic Lacosamide, plan your refills early, and keep your doctor in the loop if you're running into repeated issues. You deserve consistent access to the medication that keeps you safe.
You focus on staying healthy. We'll handle the rest.
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