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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Chris O on August 1, 2008, at 16:51:17
I'm into my second week of 30mg/day generic fluoxetine. I am seeking feedback from others who have taken this generic. I took Eli Lily's Prozac eight years ago at 20mg/day. Even after two weeks, I noticed a significant improvement in my GAD and depression symptoms. With this generic, it's like, not so much. There is some improvement, but it seems...weak, tepid, blah. Also, with the Lily Prozac, I did get some side effects, some twitching, some anorgasmia. With the generic, there are basically no side effects. So, I'm wondering...is there even anything in this funky green pill?
Chris
Posted by linkadge on August 1, 2008, at 18:29:03
In reply to Generic Fluoxetine: Experiences? Good? Bad?, posted by Chris O on August 1, 2008, at 16:51:17
I think generic fluoxetine is probably fairly decent.
The reason being is that it is an IR formula with a very long half life. This means that minor fluctuations in daily dosage are not likely to mean big changes in plasma levels.
Its different than say generic wellbutrin where there can be differences in the way the XR formula releases the chemical and the shorter half life would be more likely to expose fluctuations in dosage.
I could be wrong though,
Linkadge
Posted by yxibow on August 1, 2008, at 19:16:20
In reply to Generic Fluoxetine: Experiences? Good? Bad?, posted by Chris O on August 1, 2008, at 16:51:17
> I'm into my second week of 30mg/day generic fluoxetine. I am seeking feedback from others who have taken this generic. I took Eli Lily's Prozac eight years ago at 20mg/day. Even after two weeks, I noticed a significant improvement in my GAD and depression symptoms. With this generic, it's like, not so much. There is some improvement, but it seems...weak, tepid, blah. Also, with the Lily Prozac, I did get some side effects, some twitching, some anorgasmia. With the generic, there are basically no side effects. So, I'm wondering...is there even anything in this funky green pill?
>
> ChrisI think its more an issue of trying a medication a second time around and getting different results. I don't think it has to do with being a generic or not. Its been a generic for quite some time now as one of the first generic psychotropics.
Do you really want those side effects? Maybe its a sign that Prozac is not working for you as noted these days like it did before. Remember, biochemical imbalances are a moving target, your brain changes over time.
-- just a though
-- Jay
Posted by bleauberry on August 1, 2008, at 20:22:53
In reply to Generic Fluoxetine: Experiences? Good? Bad?, posted by Chris O on August 1, 2008, at 16:51:17
In the archives of pbabble are countless stories of people who noticed differences between generic and brand of many meds. Maybe the FDA and researchers don't want to commit to taking a look at it, but I believe the fillers and carrier molecules do indeed make some kind of a difference. Also, there is an allowed variation of the amount of the active ingredient that can waver from brand fairly significantly. 20mg generic analyzed in a lab might actually only be 17mg or 18mg and still be legal and accepted as fine.
With me, it might have been conincidence. No way to prove it. I was unaware at the time and oblivious to this stuff. But, I had been on brand prozac for several years and was stabilized on it. Not a total cure, but definitely functional and fairly well. Then the generic came out and insurance switched me to that. As I look back, all my troubles with prozac poopout and new strange side effects started about 4-8 weeks after that switch. Coincidence?
Posted by Racer on August 1, 2008, at 22:48:45
In reply to Generic Fluoxetine: Experiences? Good? Bad?, posted by Chris O on August 1, 2008, at 16:51:17
Laws governing generics in the US require generics to be "bio-equivalent" to the name brand, but allow for a variance of up to 10%. That means that a pill marked 20 mg fluoxetine could contain anywhere from 18 mg to 22 mg. That's not a huge variance, of course, but it could make a difference if you go from one manufacturer's generic to another.
And fillers and binders can make a difference. I had an allergic reaction to generic fluoxetine once, even though I'd taken both brand name Prozac and various other generic fluoxetines with no problem.
In general, I've done just fine on generics -- except for that one time, of course. If I were going to speculate, I'd lean towards inadequate dose or inadequate time for an explanation, rather than a problem with the generic because it was a generic. Another possibility is deterioration -- if the medication has been improperly stored or has passed its expiration date, it is possible it has lost some of its mojo. You can't know what conditions it has endured on its way to your medicine cabinet.
I'd ask the pharmacist about a different manufacturer's generic, or try another pharmacy to see if another generic flavor might be better for you. (Unless, of course, you have the means to go for the name brand and prefer to go that route.)
Good luck!
Posted by rjlockhart '05 on August 1, 2008, at 23:58:07
In reply to Re: Generic Fluoxetine: Experiences? Good? Bad? » Chris O, posted by Racer on August 1, 2008, at 22:48:45
Prozac. What can i say? i've been on it for a while its the effective one that i have taken. I take a considerable amount for certain reasons.
Have you asked about just taking 40mg capules?
Posted by Phillipa on August 2, 2008, at 0:28:19
In reply to Re: Generic Fluoxetine: Experiences? Good? Bad?, posted by linkadge on August 1, 2008, at 18:29:03
Link good to know as have a bottle of l0mg generic in the cabinet. Since all I want to do is sleep than maybe now I need a more activating ad???? Love Phillipa
Posted by Chris O on August 2, 2008, at 1:23:33
In reply to Generic Fluoxetine: Experiences? Good? Bad?, posted by Chris O on August 1, 2008, at 16:51:17
Well, I guess I'll just give this more time and see how it works out. I'm aware of the FDA rules regarding the 80 to 120% bio-equivalence, and the fact that the biggest difference is the "fillers." Still, this generic fluoxetine just doesn't seem as powerful as the Eli Lily Prozac I took eight years ago. I'm getting some physical anxiety relief, but only when I'm alone, and unstressed. When I go out, or I have to "extro-vert myself" my strong sense of paranoia still remains on this stuff. If memory serves, the Eli Lily Prozac kept that in control much better, even within a couple of weeks. But again, I'll take this for a bit and see if improvements occur.
Thanks for the feedback, everyone!
Chris
This is the end of the thread.
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