Brand name vs. generic medications

[Emma_08]

Has anybody noticed a difference in brand name drugs vs. their generic counterparts?  I was given a prescription for Xanax (.25 mg), but because it was MUCH less expensive, was given the generic alprozolam.  To be honest, I haven't really gotten much relief from either the brand name or generic, but I just wanted to see what people thought about this.
Thanks,
Em

[jo929]

I have not noticed any change in my med, i was taking a brand name, and they changed it to generic And i did not notice any difference   jo

[hope_for_more]

I have a friend whose pdoc put her on prozac not the generic saying that sometimes there seems to be a different response between the name brand and generic.  She seems to have done better on the name brand than the generic version she was on before so there may be something to it.  Just thought I'd throw that in since it came from a doc.

[xanweaner]

I have noticed a difference between the two. I do take xanax and request the brand, but the difference I have experience with is Ambien. I tried the generic and could not fall asleep on it...I immediately switched back to the brand.

Ryan, who used to post here, wrote an excellent post about brand name drugs vs. generics - try and do a search on the anxiety forum and see if you can access it. Try putting in: Ryan generic drugs or something like that...

Also, many drug stores now switch their generic companies, depending upon pricing deals they get from the companies. If you find a generic that you do like, you can ask them to order it for you. I use TEVA brand for my mirtazepine, and make sure that my store pre-orders if for me, if they don't have in stock.

[Jade59]

Ah...great minds think alike.  I was thinking of Ryans post too.  I have generic Ambian CR and it does nothing for me so maybe what I need is the brand name.  Hmm....very interesting!

Emma----Ryan hasn't posted much lately so maybe if you scan HIS posts, you'll find the post that xan is talking about.  It's only been within the last few weeks since I saw that post.  Nothing else to do right now, maybe I'll look for it for you.  

[Emma_08]

Thank you for your posts!  They are much appreciated :)

[xanweaner]

Re: Ambien - yes, the difference between the two was like night and day. I notified my pharmacist and immediately brought back the prescription and exchanged it for the brand.

Ryan's post on  generics was great - I tried looking for it earlier but couldn't find it. I sure wish he was back - he is such a great source of info., plus I like how he thinks, too. I hope he's doing well...

And, Emma, I hope this info. helps you, too...

[xanweaner]

Here's part of the post from Ryan on generics as well as the link to the fda site for more information:


"Be careful with mail order pharmacies, as they will send you whatever is on the shelf. Their only goal is to purchase the cheapest **** available. Clonazepam has a narrow
therapeutic index, and the generics vary wildly in Bioavailability and Bioequivalency. The FDA allows a tolerance of +/- 20% for generics. This can impact your Clonazepam plasma level. I recommend choosing one generic brand, and remaining on only that brand.

When I was taking Roche Klonopin, I briefly switched to TEVA Clonazepam. While not immediately apparent, after several weeks, it was obvious (subjectively anyway) that the TEVA fell short in efficacy.

Somewhere, I wrote down the link to the FDA approval of Mylan Clonazepam, in which the drug is compared to Klonopin in respect to BA and BE. The Mylan was not equal, which suggests that it is not a complete substitute for Klonopin. If I can find the link, I'll post it.

by RCA7591

, Apr 11, 2008 02:14AM

http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/anda/98/75150_Clonazepam.pdf

Start at page 30.

Ryan"
___________________________________________________________________
I believe that this link is to Clonazepam info., but you can also go to the fda.gov site and look for the info. on your drug.
I hope this helps you...

FMX...perhaps you'll find more info. when you do your search...

Have a nice evening, ladies...
xan

[Jade59]

I got sidetraked, and even if I found the post, I haven't the slightest idea how to transfer posts from one place to another like you just did.  

Xan, your just.......swell!!!

[xanweaner]

If you have a PC, just do a cut and paste. Go to the area that you want copied, highlight it, then press "ctrl" and "c" at the same time.....that's the cut.

Then go to the section where you want it to go - press "crtl" and "v" at the same time....
Viola - that's cut and paste.....(forgot how to put the little accent over a letter for the viola)...

Hope I explained that ok....
Have a nice day today....

[Jade59]

Thank you so much!!!  I'll have to sit here and experiment.  I'm sure you explained it perfectly....it sounds easy!

♥

[Emma_08]

Thanks for your help guys!!

[Jade59]

I just reread your post.  Lol, I don't know if I have a PC or not.  What does PC mean?

Thanks hun!!!

[Jade59]

Nevermind : )

I followed your instructions and I DID IT!!!  

That's so cool!!

Thank you so much for your help ♥

[xanweaner]

Hey now - that is excellent!! Nothing like the power of cut and paste....you'll be posting all over the place now...

BTW, I am feeling highly irritable today - the xanax reduction is causing this, and I hate it!! I just can not wait for this whole ordeal to be over....I'm so frustrated!!!

Wish I could do the little hearts that you put in your posts, but when I tried, it didn't work......:( :( :( :( :'( :'( ..............big sigh........

[Jade59]

No hearts huh?  Alt 3.  Your using the 3 on the ten key, right?

Btw...what does PC mean?  Lol, my husband said last night it meant "personal computer" and I said I doubt that.  She wouldn't be asking me if I had a computer ON a computer!!  

I'm so sorry your feeling irritated today.  I can only IMAGINE the frustration!  You're doing SO WELL though and should be so proud of yourself.  Time flies and this will all be a distant memory before you know it. : )  

I really admire your dedication to getting off that drug.

Take care ♥
  

[Emma_08]

PC does mean personal computer :)

I never knew how to do the hearts before...let me try...didn't work -best I can do is <3

Be well!!

[Jade59]

Oh, okay.  Thanks Emma.  Guess my husband was right!  Just didn't make sense to me xan would ask me if I had a PC while we are ON a PC, because what else would you have?  As you can see, I'm learning.  Slooowly.  

I wonder why others have trouble with the hearts, but I like your heart too. : )

Take care hun ♥

[xanweaner]

♥♥♥ - woweeeee......can't believe it!! Thank you - we've now taught one another more applications for our pc's.......
The reason I asked is because there are 2 worlds basically - pc's and mac's.....

♥♥♥♥ - love it........♣♠☻☺○◘•♦- - my son just added them - he said that you can do all sorts of combinations using the "alt" key then using the nos.
He also said you can google "alt codes" and learn about more.....(he's 11 1/2yrs. old and is a whiz here, while his Mommy just learned to make her first ♥)...

[xanweaner]

Are you ready:

♫
♂
¿☼  I espcially like the ♫ - that's my favorite....it's "alt 14"......

Good nite....♥

[Emma_08]

What am I doing wrong??!  I'm using the alt key with the numbers, but nothing is happening :(  LOL

[xanweaner]

Use the number lock keys on the right side of your keyboard....first press the "alt" key, then press "3" ♥ - there's your heart. Press "alt" key, then 1 then 4 and you get ♫ ...
which, is now my favorite...I'm assuming that you have a pc not a mac, correct?

There's a whole list of the alt codes under google - very fun symbols. Good luck with it...

[Jade59]

Emma-----did it work?  Yes, keyboard on the right.

Xan----I knew you could Alt 1-9, but didn't think to go any further than that, ie--10, 11 etc.  Please thank your son for me. : )

Thanks for explaining the PC or MAC issue too.  

[xanweaner]

I'm glad that the info. helped, and I'll tell my son...
:( xan  :(    
(having a sad, unsettling day)

[Emma_08]

It won't work for me because I have a laptop (which doesn't have the numbers on the right), but I tried it at work and I had so much fun with it!!  

Xan -- sorry you are having a bad day.  I hope you feel better.  Be well.

Emma

[xanweaner]

Well, that explains it...Thanks for your well wishes....I'm feeling a touch better now, thank god. Let's hope that it continues to improve...
How have you bee doing?

[Jade59]

When I tried to use the alt keys on a regular email, it didn't work there either.  I mean, it WORKED, but showed something bizzare on the email when I reread it. : (

[Emma_08]

I'm glad you are feeling better, even if it is a little bit....I've been doing ok, just taking things day by day.  I was wondering, do you have any coping mechanisms for anxiety/depression that have worked well for you?  I'm really trying to turn my life around, but sometimes it can be really hard and I let all of the negative stuff overwhelm me.  Any tips would be appreciated :)