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Generic Manufacturers
Wed, 08/08/2018 - 08:42Topic: Medication Issues
Hey everyone, new here. I will try to keep this short. I had been seizure free for about 11 years. One day last year when I picked up my medication the pills looked different. I questioned the pharmacist and he said "it is the same thing, they just changed the color of the pill". At that time I had no clue about different manufacturers. I know, that seems a bit stupid. After about a week of taking the "new colored pill" I had a seizure. That is when I found out about different manufacturers. I called my Dr., and I was so angry. 11 years seizure free down the tubes! He said he would make sure the pharmacy gives me the same manufacturer every time.
Last week the pharmacy told me my manufacturer is having a backlog and they don't know when it will come in so I would have to change. Last time it was changed I had no idea anything was changed so my seizure wasn't brought about by stress or negative feelings. This time I feel fine except for an awful headache. It started the evening that I switched and it has been 4 days now. Is it possible that the same medicine can give different side effects based on the manufacturer? I'm worried this is all in my head and a "nocebo" effect. I keep trying to tell myself everything is exactly the same.
Comments
You still can have your
Submitted by Jenn0030_5968b3e028e9b on Mon, 2018-08-13 - 12:42
You still can have your doctor write brand name only on all seizure medications (all pharmacies are supposed to ask if you want brand only for all new anti-convulsant prescriptions). It's up to your insurance company if they will cover the brand name vs generic, although you can have your doctors office appeal the need for brand only if it's denied. I do track the names of the manuf. of one of my meds as I noticed a change when the pharmacy was unable to get the same supplier. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/22/generic-prescriptions_n_6730194.htmlwebsite above explains the difference between the two and addresses epilepsy medication.
Hi! My son takes a generic
Submitted by Semperfi268_5a6bcd71c42c5 on Mon, 2018-08-13 - 20:43
Hi! My son takes a generic keppra. Currently manufacturer is solco health care. Our recent refill is from Lubin pharmacy. I’m a little nervous about switching. He has been seizure free for a year. Any one have any info?
You can also thank the Obama
Submitted by just_joe on Wed, 2018-08-08 - 12:22
You can also thank the Obama administration for some of those changes .In Obamacare and Medicaid. Medicare all pharmacies at to give out a generic med if there is one available. Meaning if your doctor wants you on name brand only all they have to do is write NAME BRAND ONLY on the RX. The only real difference between name brand and generic meds is the fillers. All active ingrediency's must b the same. I have been taking them for years. One of the last times I had in increase in seizures I thought it was new company. I had the pharmacy list all the different companies I had gotten meds from and one was not listed. Doc said he didn't think it was the maker and he excused himself for few minutes. When he came back in he said id was not the maker and he explained that that company was bought by one of the ones I had been using and changes were being made but no to the medications. He also explained the last drug test I was in I was on the real medication and not a placebo. Which was why my seizures had been reduced. We discussed adding medication nd did that nd the number if seizures went back to a few month