Posted by Racer on October 15, 2007, at 16:36:21
In reply to Effexor XR, posted by Shelleye2006 on October 15, 2007, at 12:04:01
> I asked my Dr. about it and he said it wasn't from the meds because I'd been on them too long for any new side effects.
>Well, that's true -- you've been on Effexor XR too long to expect new side effects from it...
You've been on generic long acting venlafaxine for about two months, though -- and that really is different. Remember "separate but equal?" The same is true for generics: they have to be "equivalent" to the name brand, but they don't have to be identical to it. That means that you should be absorbing the same amount of active substance from it -- but since the fillers and binders are different, and the time release mechanism may also be different, you're still getting a different drug. I have taken both Prozac and generic fluoxetine, and both are about equally helpful for me -- but I have allergic reactions to some of the generics. Not all, just some, that's how we know that it's something to do with the binders or fillers.
So, you may be having a reaction of some sort to the fillers/binders, but I doubt that. That sort of reaction usually hits your skin, too, so my guess is that you're experiencing a different reaction because of the time-release mechanism. You could talk to your doctor about changing your dosing schedule, or you could ask your pharmacy whether they can get a generic from another manufacturer to see if that causes the same problems. Last option is to specify name brand, although you'll most likely have to appeal to your insurance carrier to get that covered, so your doctor would have to be on board with it.
Good luck.
poster:Racer
thread:789369
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20071009/msgs/789409.html