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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sam K on August 15, 2009, at 15:40:07
Ok, let me vent this out.
I know the generics and brand names are the same for some people, but thats not the case for me
Ok, so I take one lamotrigine (made by Teva) here are the effects:
*Increased pain, joint pain in the knee (a little bit), shoulder and my shin splints hurt so bad (I couldnt jog, sometimes it hurt to walk, I was somewhat handicapped, and Im only 18.
*A little bit of appetite increase, it was tolerable.
*Worked for manic/bipolar symtoms fairly well.Okay now I try Lamictal made by GSK. Brand name
*Way more increased appetite, about 5-10 pound weight gain.
*Knocked me out, put me into a daze, kind of like a drug trip almost.
*Sat in my basement for days and days.Lamotrigine by Dr. Reddys
*No shin splint pain at all, but knee pain was there alot. Ive never had knee pain ever really.
*No weight gain, appetite increase at all.
*The efficiancy was weak for my bipolar symtoms. It lacked stabilization.Now gabapentin made by Teva.
*Sped up, some anxiety, increased heart rate and some increase blood pressure.
*I talked so much, impulsive, and racing thoughts, although they were contained and managable.
*euphoriaGabapentin made by PurePac
*Tired, fatigued. A bit angry and sad. (not that bad though)
*More stabilized, calmed racing thoughts.
*No anxiety
*calming
Posted by Phillipa on August 15, 2009, at 17:36:51
In reply to generics from my point of view., posted by sam K on August 15, 2009, at 15:40:07
Certain meds it seems aren't good generics. Think thread on lamictal and wellbutrin same subject. Phillipa
Posted by SLS on August 15, 2009, at 17:52:04
In reply to generics from my point of view., posted by sam K on August 15, 2009, at 15:40:07
From what I have read, AEDs are more apt to show differences between brand name and generic preparations with regard to efficacy than other types of drugs. With epilepsy, I imagine there is much less tolerance in differences of bioavailability.
http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/70/22_Part_2/2179
- Scott
Posted by SheilaC on August 16, 2009, at 14:18:12
In reply to Re: generics from my point of view., posted by SLS on August 15, 2009, at 17:52:04
Due to insurance, I've tried a few of the Teva drugs and they are awful! It felt like they uswed wood pulp as the filler ingredients in the Teva generic for Wellbutrin!
Posted by yxibow on August 16, 2009, at 16:22:15
In reply to generics from my point of view., posted by sam K on August 15, 2009, at 15:40:07
> Ok, let me vent this out.
> I know the generics and brand names are the same for some people, but thats not the case for me
>I understand that some people experience differences with generics, but this is quite a wide range. Suppose you never knew which generic you were taking, would you have the same side effects ?
Was the pains in your body the Teva, or a random event, even if you're "only 18".
I'm just trying to put a different spin on things saying that causality is not always causation.
You would have to -not- know that you are getting a different generic to definitively prove this.
That being said, given all these thoughts, I do have questions should some of my agents turn generic (especially the AP) or change (they have changed, but I guess my laundry list of medications is so long that it would be hard to sort that one out).-- Jay
Posted by sam K on August 17, 2009, at 12:31:50
In reply to Re: generics from my point of view. » sam K, posted by yxibow on August 16, 2009, at 16:22:15
yea I would notice for sure. Especially these two meds, gabapentin and lamictal. Idk, like someone (sls?) said that anticonvulsants are the ones most likely to be flawed in generic.
I didnt notice when I switched zoloft though. Walmart switched companies and i didnt noticed any difference.
The teva gabapentin is so much different than all the other ones Ive tried. Its really stimulating and gives me palpitations. It was also euphoric and my mind raced. Then we get more as another brand, and that one is sedating and calms me alot. But then I had alot of anger from it.
Ive had this happen with more than a few drugs now, and they were all anti convulsants i think. Topamax, gabapentin, lamictal and I think clonazepam.
Posted by yxibow on August 17, 2009, at 19:57:52
In reply to Re: generics from my point of view., posted by sam K on August 17, 2009, at 12:31:50
> yea I would notice for sure. Especially these two meds, gabapentin and lamictal. Idk, like someone (sls?) said that anticonvulsants are the ones most likely to be flawed in generic.
Hmm... I'd think the FDA would watch that more since people with epilepsy need a steady dose -- from what I've seen in the Orange Book they're generally AB, but I know that doesn't help your situation.
> I didnt notice when I switched zoloft though. Walmart switched companies and i didnt noticed any difference.
Most pharmacies switch companies to match market rates. It is possible to order a different generic from some pharmacies but that may take a while and exceed the time when you run out.
> The teva gabapentin is so much different than all the other ones Ive tried. Its really stimulating and gives me palpitations. It was also euphoric and my mind raced. Then we get more as another brand, and that one is sedating and calms me alot. But then I had alot of anger from it.
> Ive had this happen with more than a few drugs now, and they were all anti convulsants i think. Topamax, gabapentin, lamictal and I think clonazepam.
>I'm sorry to hear that you are sensitive to generics... as for benzodiazepines, they have been generic in the pharmacies for the better part of several decades, you would be wasting your money on the "real" one, even if they are still made.
As for the gabapentin that I get, it used to be Greenstone, it has been Apotex after that. I don't know that I have noticed much of a difference other than attempts from removing it from my medicine mixture to consolidate things haven't had the best results.
My Lamictal was Teva for its exclusivity time (frequently so with generics in the US, 180 days after expiration of patented exclusivity) and now I'm getting, oh... I'm not sure, maybe also Apotex or something, not the triangle widget thing but a round pill, which is confusing to other round pills I must admit.
Don't remember what my clonazepam was when I was on it, but it was probably Mylan or Watson.-- Jay
This is the end of the thread.
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