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Brand name vs. generic medications

by Emma_08, May 05, 2008 06:49PM
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
Member Comments (27)

by jo929, May 05, 2008 07:08PM
To: Emma
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

by hope_for_more, May 05, 2008 07:30PM
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.

by xanweaner, May 05, 2008 07:54PM
To: emma
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.



by FMXSMKR, May 05, 2008 08:03PM
To: xanweaner
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.  

by Emma_08, May 05, 2008 08:17PM
Thank you for your posts!  They are much appreciated :)

by xanweaner, May 05, 2008 10:46PM
To: fmx...emma, too
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...

by xanweaner, May 05, 2008 11:11PM
To: emma & fmx
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


by FMXSMKR, May 06, 2008 12:00AM
To: xanweaner
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!!!

by xanweaner, May 06, 2008 10:54AM
To: FMXSMKR
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....

by FMXSMKR, May 06, 2008 11:01AM
To: Xanweaner
Thank you so much!!!  I'll have to sit here and experiment.  I'm sure you explained it perfectly....it sounds easy!

♥

by Emma_08, May 06, 2008 07:43PM
To: Xanweaner and FMX
Thanks for your help guys!!

by FMXSMKR, May 06, 2008 11:31PM
To: xanweaner
I just reread your post.  Lol, I don't know if I have a PC or not.  What does PC mean?

Thanks hun!!!

by FMXSMKR, May 06, 2008 11:52PM
To: xanweaner
Nevermind : )

I followed your instructions and I DID IT!!!  

That's so cool!!

Thank you so much for your help ♥

by xanweaner, May 07, 2008 04:27PM
To: fmx
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........

by FMXSMKR, May 07, 2008 05:30PM
To: xanweaner
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 ♥
  

by Emma_08, May 07, 2008 05:54PM
To: FMXSMKR
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!!

by FMXSMKR, May 07, 2008 06:23PM
To: Emma
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 ♥