![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by gadchik on June 7, 2013, at 16:12:33
I just dont know if my switching over to Teva from brand Klonopin is a success. I feel weird since switching completely over. Yet, Im not dizzy, which to me, would be an indication of inferiority generic. My first withdrawal symptom is dizziness. I just hated paying soooo much more for brand, and I really wanted this to be a successful change.My emotions are different, could be hormonal though, Im 49. Anxiety creeps in sometimes now, where it didnt before. As everyone knows, Ive wanted to taper it but never have. I wish there was hard evidence that brand is superior or generic is just as good. I guess this is all subjective. And I have discussed with my pharmacist, and he feels they are equal.
Posted by Phillipa on June 7, 2013, at 18:25:07
In reply to Real or Imaginary, Generic or Brand, posted by gadchik on June 7, 2013, at 16:12:33
Gadchik I pay for brand for Lexapro as I used to pay for brand Xanax. But found out the makers at the time of Xanax also made the generic. Greenstone so continue to take this brand. Personally I've heard name brand klonopin is superior. There was a poster Robert David that felt the same. And his doc did also. Might want to look under his name in archives with ensam & klonopin? P
Posted by Phillipa on June 7, 2013, at 18:42:46
In reply to Re: Real or Imaginary, Generic or Brand » gadchik, posted by Phillipa on June 7, 2013, at 18:25:07
Old post. Hope it copied. P
Re: Klonopin better than Clonazepam??? » bob
Posted by Rick on December 15, 2001, at 18:33:44
In reply to Klonopin better than Clonazepam???, posted by bob on December 15, 2001, at 16:21:40
I long avoided the generic because I had heard such stories. To my dismay, I inadvertently ended up with generic clonazepam six months ago. After raising a ruckus with my insurer's mail order prescription division, I agreed to try it awhile.Turns out I can tell no difference whatsoever, other than the taste and texture of the pill. It may depend partly on which generic manufacturer of clonazepam you end up with -- there are many. I have been getting Teva (an Israeli company that bought a longtime major U.S. generic maker whose name escapes me). I read that clonazepam is in fact Teva's largest-selling medication.
I did some research on the clonazepam vs. Klonopin issue and found one artcle in a medical journal, a letter from two pdocs who said their patients had to reduce their dosage when they started taking the generic. Apparently that generic -- don't know which one -- seemed stronger. (This surprised me, since the usual complaints I had seen in posts from users was that their generic seemed *less* potent than the brand.)
There was a post here a few weeks ago from someone who switched from Xanax to clonazepam (also Teva's generic), and was very pleased with the theraputic benefits of the med (at least as of the time of the post).
I suppose it's possible that if any differences exist they might be more likely to show up at higher dosages. You didn't say how much your friend is taking. I take 1 mg/day.
Rick
> I have a friend who took Klonopin to augment the jitteriness she got from Luvox. She then had to stop her job, and she switched to generic clonazepam. She swears that the generic form is not as effective and seems "dirtier". She says it has a slight hangover and seems to produce more cognitive dysfuntion. This really raised my curiosity, because I too mix Clonazepam w/ Luvox, but I've never taken the brand name.
>
> Can anyone corroborate that this might indeed be true: Klonopin being slightly cleaner than the generic???
Posted by gadchik on June 7, 2013, at 19:50:28
In reply to Re: Real or Imaginary, Generic or Brand, posted by Phillipa on June 7, 2013, at 18:42:46
That's exactly what I feel, that the brand is "cleaner". Im glad u mentioned that post, because I couldnt name what I was feeling, and that's it.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on June 7, 2013, at 21:28:29
In reply to Real or Imaginary, Generic or Brand, posted by gadchik on June 7, 2013, at 16:12:33
I always get generics - and have never noticed one iota of difference
the drug regulatory agencies demand that generic manufacturers show bioequivalence to brand (ie, produce blood levels that are within the normal range)
Most of the bad stuff about generic drugs dates from the days before bioequivalence testing, in the 60's when my mother was a young pharmacist generic thyroid wasn't as good as, no two ways about it, but today they are in all but a very small minority of cases. I think a lot of the issues people have are power of suggestion. The guy ahead of me in te pharmacy queue the other day was telling the pharmacist that only one particular generic of oxazepam worked for him - the original brand didn't work, and none of the generics except one were any good. To me, this just has to be atleast partly psychological..... the prettier packaging, brightly coloured pills and well known names of the original brands have just the same effect on peoples psyche as the advertising of big brand laundry detergents
Posted by gadchik on June 8, 2013, at 6:14:32
In reply to Re: Real or Imaginary, Generic or Brand, posted by jono_in_adelaide on June 7, 2013, at 21:28:29
and I think you have brought up a good point, and one which Im trying to figure out. Since this is a subtle diff Im feeling right now, I will continue on with Teva. Mainly because the price diff here is so huge. I could also try taking a little more, perhaps I would have to do that anyway with Roche.Lots of things going on with hormones, getting older, etc...that may have to do with me not teva. As I said, dizziness would really cause me to believe it wasnt equal,but I havent had that effect. And I do like the orange pill with the little k stamped out! generic is just a pill!
Posted by gadchik on June 8, 2013, at 12:20:10
In reply to Re: Real or Imaginary, Generic or Brand, posted by Phillipa on June 7, 2013, at 18:42:46
I was looking over that post again, and he said its probably more pronounced diff with the larger doses of klonopin. That makes sense to me.I am feeling a subtle diff, but dont want it to turn into something more. Id pay the extra willingly if I didnt have a son in college. However, my mental health must be taken care of, so I will just see how it goes. May consider Greenstone zoloft again too if need more anxiety control. Would really have to be careful about weight, though. My pdoc says it wasnt zoloft but the remeron that put the weight on.
Posted by Phillipa on June 8, 2013, at 20:34:34
In reply to Re: Real or Imaginary, Generic or Brand » Phillipa, posted by gadchik on June 8, 2013, at 12:20:10
Gadchik first I would purchase say a week's worth of name brand and see if it makes a difference in how you feel. Then you will know if it's namebrand or generic? Also strange but when was going through menopause and didn't know it I had vertigo so had to crawl on hands and knees to the bathroom. When went to ER I was given an IM of 2mg of Ativan and then antivert. Also same time as thyroid going bonkers? It stinks to be female at times. P
Posted by Cee on June 9, 2013, at 2:01:23
In reply to Re: Real or Imaginary, Generic or Brand » gadchik, posted by Phillipa on June 8, 2013, at 20:34:34
Do you now what your taking about
Posted by gadchik on June 9, 2013, at 6:54:50
In reply to Re: Real or Imaginary, Generic or Brand, posted by Cee on June 9, 2013, at 2:01:23
Cee, I am takng teva right now.I ran out of the brand, and got the teva, Id been taking brand, then teva, switching around to get used to new one, and now Im totally on teva
Posted by gadchik on June 9, 2013, at 6:59:15
In reply to Re: Real or Imaginary, Generic or Brand » gadchik, posted by Phillipa on June 8, 2013, at 20:34:34
I asked my pharmacist if I could break up my rx and get so many roche and so many teva, and he said he couldnt do that. I'd have to get my pdoc to actually write an rx for just small amt of roche. I havent asked her to do that,but considering the $ I pay her, Im sure she would. My thyroid has always tested normal, but I will keep getting it tested every yr or so. They said my vertigo was caused by inner ear fluid. It drove me mad.I would be in the grocery store and think I was getting ready to spin. Then of course, I'd go into a major panic
Posted by gadchik on June 9, 2013, at 9:58:33
In reply to Re: Real or Imaginary, Generic or Brand » gadchik, posted by Phillipa on June 8, 2013, at 20:34:34
P, I didnt have an iv of ativan. it was an injection,like u
Posted by Phillipa on June 9, 2013, at 21:35:10
In reply to Re: Real or Imaginary, Generic or Brand » Phillipa, posted by gadchik on June 9, 2013, at 9:58:33
Inner ear fluid yes that sure will also do it. I am sure your doc will do this for you. Doesn't hurt to experiment. Then you will know P
Posted by gadchik on June 10, 2013, at 9:47:57
In reply to Re: Real or Imaginary, Generic or Brand » gadchik, posted by Phillipa on June 9, 2013, at 21:35:10
I found a small stash of brand ks in my place where i keep extra meds! So I will see if there's a real diff or not.
Posted by Phillipa on June 10, 2013, at 20:45:48
In reply to Re: Real or Imaginary, Generic or Brand » Phillipa, posted by gadchik on June 10, 2013, at 9:47:57
Oh great. Did you take one yet? Is it different? P
Posted by gadchik on June 11, 2013, at 3:46:52
In reply to Re: Real or Imaginary, Generic or Brand » gadchik, posted by Phillipa on June 10, 2013, at 20:45:48
I took one last night, didnt sleep any better, I got up at 3 today. I will see if I feel better as the day goes on.
Posted by gadchik on June 11, 2013, at 10:48:35
In reply to Re: Real or Imaginary, Generic or Brand » gadchik, posted by Phillipa on June 10, 2013, at 20:45:48
I dont feel any better after taking brand last night. I think all this is hormonal. I have a nervous,butterflies in stomach feeling, hotflashy, and a little agitated. And its week b4 menstrual,sooo. I will take anothr brand tonight. I cant blieve ive been up since 3am, dont feel tired, just anxious, edgy. I try to remind myself that brand is $207 for 120 pills and teva is $25 for 120 pills...
Posted by Abby Cunningham on June 11, 2013, at 12:41:20
In reply to Re: Real or Imaginary, Generic or Brand » Cee, posted by gadchik on June 9, 2013, at 6:54:50
I really don't believe you are imagining a difference in the strength or effectiveness of generic over brand name.
Here is an old thread that goes over the leeway that generics area allowed :
http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl?post=/babble/20060403/msgs/629707.html
Posted by gadchik on June 11, 2013, at 14:31:38
In reply to Re: Real or Imaginary, Generic or Brand, posted by Abby Cunningham on June 11, 2013, at 12:41:20
Thanks, thats an informative thread.
Posted by Phillipa on June 11, 2013, at 19:01:57
In reply to Re: Real or Imaginary, Generic or Brand » Abby Cunningham, posted by gadchik on June 11, 2013, at 14:31:38
I remember the thread and a lot of the posters. A Time when babble had so many knowledgeable people. Docs, pharmacists, etc. I used to email with Robert and it's true. Also we talked on phone and he had a very good pdoc. And he did take name brand. Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.