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Different brands of sertraline

Posted , 3 users are following.

Ooker
Ooker

I am hoping someone out there can help with this query. I was prescribed Sertraline in 2013 for GAD and OCD and found that it worked really well. I started at 50 mg and have taken 100mg since November 2014 every day. At the time, I lived in Scotland and received the Accord brand. We came back to England in 2016 and my new GP continued with the prescription but issued me with Actavis and I had no problem with this. However, about three months ago, the brand changed to Aurobindo. Over that time, I have started to feel unwell again - I have headaches back and I go through periods of several days where I just feel nervy and anxious all the time, I am also starting to obsess about eating again (which is an OCD thing with me). So, I asked to go back to the Actavis brand and they said okay but when I opened the pack, the tablets inside were Aurobindo. I have managed to swap them at the pharmacy for Accord so I am fine for the next 28 days. Then I have to see the doc to discuss.

I suspect that what may have happened is that sometime in 2017, Aurobindo (an Indian company) have bought Actavis and that the latter are now just distributors in the UK. Chances are that they are using up old packaging prior to just issuing the drugs in new Aurobindo boxes. I am going to ask my doc to specify Accord on my script but it would be very useful to know if this hunch is correct? To date, no one I have spoken to either at the chemist or the docs has denied that the medication does differ between brands, but of course the docs are convinced that I have “always had” the Aurobindo in the Actavis pack To be fair, they deal with loads of different meds so they can hardly have an intimate knowledge of them all. 

So any any help or knowledge out there would be greatly welcomed prior to my appointment. Knowledge is power and it would help to go in with as much as possible. Thank you. X

1 like, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Hoopz
    Hoopz Ooker

    Posted

    I read on here somewhere about problems with different brands. I'm taking 150 mg. The 100mg are

    Accord and the 50mg are aurobindo so I've got 2 different ones. I am feeling better since I've gone up to the 150mg so I don't think the 2 types are affecting me. You could try googling because I did read it on here and it might come up. Good luck

    🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄

  • Hoopz
    Hoopz Ooker

    Posted

    I've Googled it and there's results from 8 years ago on this forum. Take a look

    🦄🦄🦄🦄

    • Ooker
      Ooker Hoopz

      Posted

      Thank you Hoopz, I have checked that out and it’s helpful. However, I would still be interested to hear from anyone, possibly a pharmacist on the specific question regarding Actavis and Aurobindo. What I want to prove, if possible, is that at some stage Actavis Sertraline changed from being their own manufactured drug with their printed name on the foil pack, to an Actavis pack with Aurobindo foil pack inside. Which could happen if Aurobindo bought the company and started bringing in “their” version, using Actavis as distributors here in the UK. 
  • Guest
    Guest Ooker

    Posted

    The old activis packs had barnstable on the back, when they changed it said aurobindo on the back?The old activis were fine, the new ones made me ill , so did accord and aurobindo, they all come from India!!!

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