Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by fenix on January 28, 2006, at 16:55:34
Hi, I am being treated for tardive akathisia with benzodiazepines. Benzos are the only drugs I am taking.
My doctor and I decided to try clonazepam, I was on it two years ago so I already had experience with it, however, something seems wrong with this generic version of clonazepam I have this time, it seems weak concerning anti-anxiety properties. This generic clonzy appears to be by Purepac and it is the pink tabs that say R33 on one side, and are scored on the other side.
Questions:
1) Has anyone ever had the same experience I am having with this weak generic purepac clonazepam?
2) Should I ask my doctor to give me only the brand-name version Klonopin (in my health insurance, it says it needs a PA(prior authorization) for brand-names...this sucks I think)
3) Should I just ask to try another benzo and see if maybe the generics for Valium and Xanax are better?
4) Speaking of Prior Authorization for brand name, has anyone had experience with that? Is it a real hassle?
5) And the last question being, should I ask for another specific benzo because I think this clonzy generic isn't working? If it seems to the doctor that I know a lot about different benzos she may think I am a drug addict or something ( I hate the stigma with benzos, these drugs are so useful). Then again, I am being treated for tardive akathisia, so I guess it really doesn't matter!
Posted by Phillipa on January 28, 2006, at 18:23:11
In reply to About Generic Clonazepam and Other Stuff, posted by fenix on January 28, 2006, at 16:55:34
Generics are not always the best they vary up or down by around 20% I think. And even though my doc has written a script for the bandname they won't pay for it maybe it's the insurance. Good luck. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by blueberry on January 29, 2006, at 6:23:29
In reply to About Generic Clonazepam and Other Stuff, posted by fenix on January 28, 2006, at 16:55:34
There have been many reports here that generic is weaker and not as good as the brand. I have seen psychiatrist websites where they claim many of their patients complain that generic doesn't work as well as brand. So it probably is not your imagination.
If you can afford it, you might want to request the brand version.
It's not just clonazepam either. There have been many reports on generic versions of other drugs not being as good. Give me brand prozac one day and generic another day, and I can tell the difference. Brand remeron is very sedating to me, but generic remeron is weakly sedating.
Posted by James K on January 29, 2006, at 11:39:11
In reply to About Generic Clonazepam and Other Stuff, posted by fenix on January 28, 2006, at 16:55:34
I take clonazepam. I'd like Klonopin. Dr. Paul Cheney is a chronic fatigue specialist and I take that med because of his research and my doctor's. He has an article describing his views on Klonopin and he states that the generic just isn't as good. He doesn't say why, and I haven't jumped throught the hoops to get the real thing yet. I just wanted to second (or fourth) your suspicion that you weren't getting the real thing. (if you want to read the article you should be able to just google Cheney and Klonopin)
James K
Posted by yxibow on January 30, 2006, at 2:06:48
In reply to About Generic Clonazepam and Other Stuff, posted by fenix on January 28, 2006, at 16:55:34
> Hi, I am being treated for tardive akathisia with benzodiazepines. Benzos are the only drugs I am taking.
>
> My doctor and I decided to try clonazepam, I was on it two years ago so I already had experience with it, however, something seems wrong with this generic version of clonazepam I have this time, it seems weak concerning anti-anxiety properties. This generic clonzy appears to be by Purepac and it is the pink tabs that say R33 on one side, and are scored on the other side.You are getting the most popular generic from what I can tell. It is manufactured by Alpharma USPD Pharma Pac. You can ask your pharmacist if they can order from Teva, a well known generic company and see if there is any difference. Or another pharmacy may order those. Andrx also makes generics.
There is no guarantee that the original Klonopin (which is 3x the cost of generics and most benzodiazepines today are prescribed generic) is within the same 20% tolerance as well.
If you can't do any of the above, I would suggest trying Valium instead of Klonopin. Its also a long acting benzodiazepine. Ativan is another choice. Librium is another possible candidate, the first benzo on the market in 1960, although it is weaker.
Xanax has a short half life, I would not get into using it. It has too many dosages per day.
There's also options beyond benzodiazepines for tardive akathisia. There are about 5 non-cardioselective generic beta blockers on the market, propranolol (which can be dosed up to 240mg a day) and pindolol (I think?) being the most popular.I'm sorry to hear you are suffering from this condition, but there is a good news at least that 1/3 of the patients will have a complete recovery, 1/3 will have a partial or stay the same, and 1/3 will unfortunately get worse.
There are options out there. Try them all and give them a good chance.
I wish you a good luck with your difficulties
Tidings and cheers
Jay
Posted by fenix on January 30, 2006, at 6:14:27
In reply to Re: About Generic Clonazepam and Other Stuff » fenix, posted by yxibow on January 30, 2006, at 2:06:48
Thanks... I tried propranolol already but it wasn't helping. I am thinking of just asking for valium instead of clonazepam because the valium generics are probably better than the clonzy generics, I think...
There are some other things I haven't tried either.
Posted by Phillipa on January 30, 2006, at 17:04:39
In reply to Re: About Generic Clonazepam and Other Stuff, posted by fenix on January 30, 2006, at 6:14:27
Although my reason for using valium is different I really see no difference in the generic version. I wasted a lot of money on brandname before finding this out. Good luck in what ever you try. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by tizza on February 3, 2006, at 17:56:57
In reply to Re: About Generic Clonazepam and Other Stuff » fenix, posted by Phillipa on January 30, 2006, at 17:04:39
> Although my reason for using valium is different I really see no difference in the generic version. I wasted a lot of money on brandname before finding this out. Good luck in what ever you try. Fondly, Phillipa
I agree with you Phillipa, I have been taking generic valium for almost 2 years when needed and I don't notice a difference except price. My pdoc said you don't need to pay top price and our government subsidise most drugs here anyway so for me it's not a matter of insurance here in Australia. The chemist asks you if you want the real one or the generic brand and you make up your own mind. I have never noticed a difference with clonezapam or nitrazepam either.
This is the end of the thread.
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