Changed brand of Losartan

I'm so glad I found this discussion because, as I get older, I find that I think I may be imagining things and it's great to find others experiencing the same problems. I've just gone back to my local, small pharmacy to return the Sandoz Losartan that I collected yesterday in exchange for the Teva brand which, I assume, my body has now got used to. Each time the brand has changed my annoying cough has increased and, with the one brand, I now think that it wasn't a coincidence that the cramp in my legs was excruciating - worse and lasting longer than ever before. Doctors and other professionals may say that Losartan is Losartan whoever the manufacturer is but the experience of people taking it is a far more useful pointer when reactions are not quite what they're expected to be. Thanks to everyone who has commented.  

Hi

The main source of the idea that drugs produced by different companies can have significantly different effects are the drug companies themselves. It might be that the other contents might have an effect on absorption rates, which could effect the response to some drugs, but BP medications build up their effects over a number of weeks and loose their effects over a similar time span. Really if people experience an immediate change its unlikely to be the drug formulation. Drug production is a highly regulated activity and products are regularly subject to quality control tests, its usually in the supplement market that products are not as they should be. A company found to be producing a poor quality product would likely be out of business the next day, but drug companies in order to charge more for an exclusive product will even produce new drugs with no real differences to older products simply to charge more.

It seems that people are more likely to worry about this in the USA, but drug companies are allowed to advertise directly to the public, often stressing quality issues. The NHS buys drugs under contract and keeps the cost down by doing so, generic drugs are often sourced from different suppliers.

I agree about the other constituents of the pills being relevant, that's why I mentioned rates of absorption. However the very long lead in time, which is often over weeks would suggest this is very unlikely to cause problems. I also agree that people may be intolerant of some constituents, but this would usually be very obvious very quickly. These arguments don't mean that there are not some unexplained effects but perhaps help explain why Drs are not convinced about it. Having said that they tend to dismiss a lot of the effects of BP medication and in that they are very often wrong.

Just had my chemist change mine from teva after 2 years for these after 5 days I had double vision and ended up in a&e. For 5 hours. Took about 8 days to go. Went back and to doctors with blood pressure raising and lowering. Got my teva brand back but 3 weeks later got bells palsey. !!’ In the same eye first then my face. I blame the coating on these tablets. 

My mom has been on losartan Potassium for years now, but recently has had trouble filling her script.  I have contacted TEVA and they have told me that they are discontinuing the product.  I dont know what to do. She has experienced horrible side effects on other brands of Losartan, does anyone know of an alternative to TEVA that is just as good? thank you

This is the reply i received yesterday from their customer service department.... 

Thank you for contacting Teva Pharmaceuticals Customer Service Department. We wish we had better news, but Losartan Potassium Tablets have been obsoleted. We apologize for any inconveniences you have experienced with the availability of this product. Please contact your pharmacist or physician’s office for an alternative product. If you have additional questions, feel free to give us a call. Thank you for contacting Teva Customer Service.

 

Customer Service

 

Moderator comment: I have removed the email address as we do not publish these in the forums. If users wish to exchange contact details please use the Private Message service.