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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 25 of 37. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by janejane on December 22, 2009, at 8:57:11
Hi everyone!
I took fluoxetine for my depression for many years, first brand name prozac and then various generics, and finally gave it up due to increasingly unbearable side effects. After doing a little research, it seems like at least part of my problem may have been due to the last generic just not agreeing with me (for example, the last couple years I took it, I got these really bad headaches). I'm thinking about going back on prozac as the other stuff I've tried for my depression since I stopped it just hasn't worked out, and I want to make sure I get a formulation with a good track record.
I would appreciate it if people who have tried more than one version could share what differences (if any) they found in effectiveness and side effects. (I don't remember such details myself, but I'm hoping some other people out there do.) Please give the name of the manufacturer and/or a description of what the pill looked like, and put down anything you noticed about it versus the brand and/or other generics. Pictures of fluoxetine made by different manufacturers can be found here:
http://www.drugs.com/imprints.php?action=search&drugname=fluoxetine
I did some googling and it seems like Par might be a decent maker (this is a just from a couple anecdotal reports). Can anyone confirm this with their own experiences? I know mileage can vary, but it would be interesting to see whether there are trends in peoples' experiences.
Thanks so much!
Posted by conundrum on December 22, 2009, at 9:08:10
In reply to generic prozac manufacturer preferences, posted by janejane on December 22, 2009, at 8:57:11
dista worked for me years ago
Posted by janejane on December 22, 2009, at 9:19:38
In reply to Re: generic prozac manufacturer preferences » janejane, posted by conundrum on December 22, 2009, at 9:08:10
I think dista is the branded as the pictures of the pills that say dista also say prozac. (Not sure why they don't all say lilly instead.) See here:
http://www.drugs.com/prozac-images.html
I think I started out with one of the green and white ones way back when. Worked great. I really wish I could recapture the magic.
Posted by conundrum on December 22, 2009, at 9:35:53
In reply to Re: generic prozac manufacturer preferences » conundrum, posted by janejane on December 22, 2009, at 9:19:38
They still said dista even when it was generic. I knew it was because they told me they switched to generic. Also CVS is super cheap so they wouldn't give brand unless my doc wrote DAW on the pad.
Posted by linkadge on December 22, 2009, at 9:57:58
In reply to generic prozac manufacturer preferences, posted by janejane on December 22, 2009, at 8:57:11
If one generic simply did not work, I would not put my hopes in another....personally.
Linkadge
Posted by janejane on December 22, 2009, at 10:01:29
In reply to Re: generic prozac manufacturer preferences » janejane, posted by conundrum on December 22, 2009, at 9:35:53
So you got the dista generic at CVS? Maybe I should call a local one and see if they still carry it since it seems like it should be equivalent to the branded.
Posted by Phillipa on December 22, 2009, at 10:45:21
In reply to Re: generic prozac manufacturer preferences » conundrum, posted by janejane on December 22, 2009, at 10:01:29
No extreme anxiety at 20mg as took the original and by day three continuously panic. Last dose ever for me. I have a bottle of some generic here I never took fear of same reaction. When my docs have written dispense real med the pharmacies won't maybe cause I have medicaire. Phillipa good luck with your search
Posted by manic666 on December 22, 2009, at 13:24:04
In reply to Re: generic prozac manufacturer preferences, posted by Phillipa on December 22, 2009, at 10:45:21
the real prozac befor generic the green an white ,worked for me for 2 years, then genric was scripted,none of them came near the real prozac an i tried a few. so gave in an tried a new med,who knows if the english docs still scripted real prozac i could still be on it, one never can say.
Posted by bleauberry on December 22, 2009, at 16:22:16
In reply to generic prozac manufacturer preferences, posted by janejane on December 22, 2009, at 8:57:11
There is real simple logic here.
Start with brand prozac. That's because you already know it and trust it. If something doesn't go right with it, then you know things have changed, the game is different now. The prozac didn't change, you did. But if it works like it used to, then at least you have a solid dependable base to work from.
Now assuming it works, then switch to a generic and see what happens. If it does not go well, get back on brand and stabilize. Once stabilized, choose a different generic. See what happens. Repeat this cycle until you find a good generic that agrees with you. Somewhere along the line I think you will find a particular generic that works well. But you have to start with the brand first.
The generics have enough differences among them that it would be a total blind crapshoot trying one after another. Makes no sense. You gotta start with the brand so you have a reference point of comparison.
Posted by mtdewcmu on December 22, 2009, at 16:41:33
In reply to generic prozac manufacturer preferences, posted by janejane on December 22, 2009, at 8:57:11
This is my second time taking Prozac. The first time I took the name brand, because it was before generics became available. This time I have been taking a generic from Mexico (Collins). I have to admit, the 20mg of Prozac seemed much stronger the first time. But I was not taking Remeron then as I am now. Also, that was before being on Celexa for several years. Maybe there is some long-term cross-tolerance there. Other than the strength, it feels about the same now as it did then.
There is not likely to be any difference between the brand and the generic other than the amount of drug the pill delivers to you. So, if the generic feels weak, take more. If the generic feels strong, take less. Right? I switched back and forth between brand and generic Celexa for the years I was on it, depending on where I filled the Rx, and I could not detect a difference.
Posted by Phillipa on December 22, 2009, at 20:44:43
In reply to Re: generic prozac manufacturer preferences, posted by mtdewcmu on December 22, 2009, at 16:41:33
Makes sense to me and with prozac having such a long half life I'd think it hard to switch brands as the old would still be in your stystem. Phillipa
Posted by mtdewcmu on December 22, 2009, at 21:12:46
In reply to generic prozac manufacturer preferences, posted by janejane on December 22, 2009, at 8:57:11
This is slightly off-topic, but have you noticed with Prozac how it hits you really hard for about 1-2 hours after you take it and then it fades away to background levels? I know the pharmacological reason why it does that, but I'm just wondering if anyone else has noticed. Valium is similar in that respect.
Posted by Phillipa on December 22, 2009, at 21:43:32
In reply to Re: generic prozac manufacturer preferences, posted by mtdewcmu on December 22, 2009, at 21:12:46
That never happened to me with either. Babblemail me? Or turn yours on? Just want to ask a question about meds. Thanks Phillipa
Posted by mtdewcmu on December 22, 2009, at 22:39:41
In reply to Re: generic prozac manufacturer preferences » mtdewcmu, posted by Phillipa on December 22, 2009, at 21:43:32
> That never happened to me with either. Babblemail me? Or turn yours on? Just want to ask a question about meds. Thanks Phillipa
My babblemail is now on.
Posted by manic666 on December 23, 2009, at 4:19:49
In reply to Re: generic prozac manufacturer preferences, posted by mtdewcmu on December 22, 2009, at 22:39:41
it was many years ago i was on the real prozac, but for the first time in years i felt good,i was a thin cool looking guy an the prozac soon altered that, i could eat for once an keep it down as anxierty was so bad before i would throw up. now i was getting food an boy i banged on the weight.thats another story, but when the generic came out, i took the script to the pharmacy an he cave me a generic, i said i dont want this , whats the score .HE said prozac was £16 a box more.i took the script back an the doc wrote prozac on it, so the pharmacy had to give it me. but it didnt last long before they forced me on the generic . Now i never looked who made them all i can remember is the different coulors every time as the pharmacies looked for the cheapest,6 years ago i tried to go back on generic prozac an was violantly sick for 3 days none stop ,i had to nuke it.let it wash an tried again, same it was if it rejected it as soon as the capsule broke.
Posted by manic666 on December 23, 2009, at 4:27:54
In reply to Re: generic prozac manufacturer preferences, posted by mtdewcmu on December 22, 2009, at 22:39:41
an may i say i didnt have the chance to try different suppliers, as i was scripted every month, so i could not try another brand till the next script.could have took a year to find one ,if i found one at all,thats england for you.that why a carnt add any meds without the srinks say so. if it goes wrong , an they find add ons in my blood.you will get nothing only a //shut the door on your way out.///
Posted by janejane on December 23, 2009, at 9:56:35
In reply to Re: generic prozac manufacturer preferences, posted by bleauberry on December 22, 2009, at 16:22:16
> There is real simple logic here.
>
> Start with brand prozac. That's because you already know it and trust it. If something doesn't go right with it, then you know things have changed, the game is different now. The prozac didn't change, you did. But if it works like it used to, then at least you have a solid dependable base to work from.
>
> Now assuming it works, then switch to a generic and see what happens. If it does not go well, get back on brand and stabilize. Once stabilized, choose a different generic. See what happens. Repeat this cycle until you find a good generic that agrees with you. Somewhere along the line I think you will find a particular generic that works well. But you have to start with the brand first.
>
> The generics have enough differences among them that it would be a total blind crapshoot trying one after another. Makes no sense. You gotta start with the brand so you have a reference point of comparison.That totally makes sense, Bleauberry. :-) I was actually thinking the same thing myself, though another strategy might be to try a well-regarded generic first, and then go to the branded if it didn't work.
I actually found about a month's worth of the original prozac in my cupboard the other day. At some point I transfered it to an unlabeled bottle so I really have no idea how old it is, though I'm guessing it's pre-2001 (when generics came out). A previous PB thread I found suggests that it's probably fine, but I'm still a little wary of taking it. It's very tempting, though, since getting my hands on some real prozac now would involve some hassle with my insurance company.
Thanks to everyone who has commented so far. Keep it coming. ;-)
Posted by bleauberry on December 23, 2009, at 18:52:27
In reply to Re: generic prozac manufacturer preferences » mtdewcmu, posted by Phillipa on December 22, 2009, at 20:44:43
> Makes sense to me and with prozac having such a long half life I'd think it hard to switch brands as the old would still be in your stystem. Phillipa
Well, as usual in many things in life, what appears to make sense can actually be wrong and deceptive, leading us off in an erroneous thought pattern that completely appears to make perfect sense at the time.
Prozac for me, and others, has an immediate "kick" for a few hours after dosing. The generic does not have that kick.
When I was unknowingly switched to generic, I was already relapsing long before the halflife of the old brand was exhausted. It was very easy to tell the difference between the two.
The halflives makes a fun table topic, but proved irrelevant in the world of reality. You can tell within 3 days, and even on the first day.
Generics (3 different ones) make me swell up badly, bringing on a vicious attack of tendonitis that was healed years ago. Brand does no such thing.
Generics feel lethargic and dull. Brand feels peppy and nice.
Why is that?
It has to be asked.
Posted by Phillipa on December 23, 2009, at 20:38:13
In reply to Re: generic prozac manufacturer preferences, posted by bleauberry on December 23, 2009, at 18:52:27
Blue don't know just know when prozac first out wasn't depressed but some anxiety low doses of benzos day l wallpapered foyer had the paper for three years, day two anxious, day three shear panic. Went off and took three days for the med to allow me to feel normal again with extra xanax. So was thinking maybe generic wouldn't be as strong? Phillipa
Posted by manic666 on December 24, 2009, at 4:19:40
In reply to Re: generic prozac manufacturer preferences » bleauberry, posted by Phillipa on December 23, 2009, at 20:38:13
phillipa you think every meds to strong, you have a fear of meds ,an get yourself into panick situations, the start ups on any are bad , but YOU just carnt get through them///.So until you nuke the med phobia you have no chance.when i took prozac years ago ,i felt like death ,but i didnt want to feel like i did before takeing prozac,so a dug my heels in a battled it out.every thing takes an age with me prozac about 9 weeks . then i woke one morning an i was in a beuatiful place. and i forgot the 9 weeks of sh*t in seconds. long live the real prozac life saver of thousand,s
Posted by Phillipa on December 24, 2009, at 20:13:50
In reply to Re: generic prozac manufacturer preferences, posted by manic666 on December 24, 2009, at 4:19:40
Manic not a single side effect with luvox first time and got up to 250mg. Then when thyroid went could no long tolerate that high a dose. Chemical changes in my body. Phillipa ps wasn't depressed when on the prozac felt great. It was new and first SSRI and the doc wanted to try it on me. For me it didn't work. Phillipa
Posted by sac on December 27, 2009, at 8:32:55
In reply to Re: generic prozac manufacturer preferences, posted by bleauberry on December 23, 2009, at 18:52:27
Been on Prozac, brand and generics for basically 18 years, generics are not as good as the brand. I have never felt the same good effects from generics, only more side effects like lethargy and weakness, dullness. The only generic I suppose I did well on was Dista, which until reading these posts, I did not realize was a generic. I though it was the brand Prozac. But this was 15 years ago, now I can't even get Dista. I am taking Sandoz brand currently, but not thrilled with it. I might actually consider trying to get the brand again. Generics are not equivalent in my opinion. By the way, I also take bupropion and had to insist on the brand as well. The generic is like a whole different medication. How do they get away with that?
Posted by mtdewcmu on December 27, 2009, at 10:42:42
In reply to Re: generic prozac manufacturer preferences, posted by sac on December 27, 2009, at 8:32:55
> Been on Prozac, brand and generics for basically 18 years, generics are not as good as the brand. I have never felt the same good effects from generics, only more side effects like lethargy and weakness, dullness. The only generic I suppose I did well on was Dista, which until reading these posts, I did not realize was a generic. I though it was the brand Prozac. But this was 15 years ago, now I can't even get Dista. I am taking Sandoz brand currently, but not thrilled with it. I might actually consider trying to get the brand again. Generics are not equivalent in my opinion. By the way, I also take bupropion and had to insist on the brand as well. The generic is like a whole different medication. How do they get away with that?
Have you tried Aplenzin? It appears to be made using the same technology as Wellbutrin XL. And it's backed up by a tier 1 drug company, Sanofi Aventis. (Although it says on the bottle that it's manufactured by a third party.)
I have a supply of 348mg Aplenzins, but I stopped taking that much bupropion due to insomnia. So now I am taking a 150mg Budeprion (Teva).
Posted by Phillipa on December 27, 2009, at 19:53:46
In reply to Re: generic prozac manufacturer preferences, posted by mtdewcmu on December 27, 2009, at 10:42:42
Seems that it's possible that soon only generics will be available if this health plan passes. Phillipa ps unless your're wealthy
Posted by mtdewcmu on December 27, 2009, at 21:30:41
In reply to Re: generic prozac manufacturer preferences, posted by Phillipa on December 27, 2009, at 19:53:46
> Seems that it's possible that soon only generics will be available if this health plan passes. Phillipa ps unless your're wealthy
As far as I can tell, the health bill will be good for almost everyone. There is nothing like a ban on name-brand meds in it. I don't think it will change their price or availability.
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