Posted by Moldy on September 4, 2010, at 10:54:25
I happened to stumble across an old thread today on alprazolam because my pharmacy is discontinuing its Greenstone brand. I have been on xanax and then alprazolam for 15 years now. Something was wrong with EVERY brand other than xanax or Greenstone. It took me some time to figure it out, and the assistance of a well seasoned pharmacy manager found the brand (during the time I had no complaints) was Greenstone (a sub of Pfizer - also manufactures xanax - Not Updike). Since returning to this brand, my psychiatrist has not changed my dosage for last 6+ years. My psychiatrist explained that the FDA allows a 5% (loss or gain) in ANY generic single dosage. Sooo, in my opinion, Xanax was & is the absolute baseline unchangable dosage per milligram. When its patent ran out and the generics came flooding in, of course your local pharmacy vies for the least expensive line to both save me money, and perhaps they make a little more in sales (especially if you are as sensitive as me and need more to compensate).
Fact: alprazolam is alprazolam no matter what brand its made under, but the differences in its (manufactured) ability to help you are noticeable. If I have been taking a brand made 5% below the minimum standard, I WILL notice something's wrong, because I'm used to taking a brand 5% ABOVE minimum standard - that's a 10% difference!
Also, even if you get your Dr. to specify the brand, expect most pharmacy chains to tell you to go away or take what they have. This has been my contention lately with the pharmacists. They say it's a corporate decision they have no control over. I don't know who to believe because the 'seasoned' pharmacist always gets Greenstone for me, but if I go to any of the other techs (in that same pharmacy) they say: can't be done! ???
Therefore, I went online - found Greenstone & their distributors and to my relief there are 2 chains very close to me (CVS & Target - didn't know they even had a pharmacy).
For the majority of new patients prescribed alprazolam, they may never know the difference. But if you are as sensitive to chem alterations as me, Greenstone is the only brand that has steadily held that monster off my back.
poster:Moldy
thread:961269
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100829/msgs/961269.html