generic AED manufactures and quality
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I’m seeing my Dr. in a couple of days. There has been a lot of controversy on the quality of generics and the manufacture of AED’s. Has anyone noticed a difference on what generics manufactures are good and which one they have had a bad experience with? Currently I take lamotrigine ER, 250 mg made by Par and 1500mg of levetiracetam ER made by Lupin. I think both are made in India. One time I was dispensed 1500mg of levetiracetam ER made by Apotex and began to have problems. The drug store usually gives me the Par and Lupin generics but I recently had a couple unexpected problems. The drug store will only give me the manufacture they have in stock, but I may ask my Dr call the pharmacist and ask for a specific generic brand. I’ve read comments before where people like Teva and Taro manufactures, but they were commenting on regular AED meds, not ER’s.
1 like, 4 replies
Winnie143 steve1951
Posted
My mail wouldn't come through properly grr ha just got this one.
I take so many white pills that I go by colour on whats what.
Trouble is the companies should keep them the same colour, as I was on a white keppra now a blue grrr again. It makes you think they have given you the wrong pills and it doesn't take much to get me confused. No comments please x
Hope you got on okay at Docs
Win
steve1951 Winnie143
Posted
Grr, yes, please comment Steve: I had the same experience one time. I was dispensed a new generic of different size and colour. I took the med back, upset, but I kept my composure. The pharmacy looked it up and it matched the colour and number on the pill. I learned I could cross check the med on google by typing in (with spaces in-between):
Photo (space) the drug manufacture (space) name and dose of the med.
For example, I take levetiracetam ER 500mg made by Lupin and googled:
Photo Lupin Levetiracetam ER 500mg and the photo came up and matched.
Each generic manufacture can make any shape or colour (spelled “color” in the U.S.) as long as it is marked.
I had two new episodes last week that I’ve never experienced before. All my problems come after about 5 minutes of going to bed (still awake) and/or about 5 minutes after waking up and still lying in bed. Both times I saw a bright glowing ball of a mixture of deep purple and reds and my mind was definitely in seizure mode, not an aura. I was awake and remained still. I couldn’t think or concentrate my way out of it. It’s a horrible feeling. Funny things is, I’m certain this wouldn’t have happened at the same time of night if I stayed awake and watched more TV. I am scheduled for another MRI. I can e-mail my Dr. afterwards and ask for the results. The two meds I was taking were both ER’s (extended release, take one dose a day.) He kept one of my meds as an ER and changed the other one back to normal, one 3X’s/day. I set alarms on my cell phone to even the dosage out at equal intervals for the 3/day. I can forget about getting my driving privilege back.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr and Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, Steve
Winnie143 steve1951
Posted
Hope you get to drive again, can you drive with epilepsy ? I have been free of fits
for 5 years but will not chance driving .. Good luck and sorry it took so long to reply as all my mails being sent to wrong folder so after 3 another grrr lol
Win x
steve1951 Winnie143
Posted
I live in CA and just looked up the requirements for being seizure free to obtain a driver’s license back. If you don’t have a blackout, it can 3 to 6 months, but a person who has blacked out, it is 3 years. I thought it was 5. And then you need a signed Dr’s recommendation (and other jumping through hoops requirements). I had a seizure at work and blacked out a few years out and got my lic. back in about 3 mo.’s. I wasn’t aware of the law at that time and thought I would lose my job, but one of my co-workers went out of his way to pick me up. I was lucky to get my drivers lic. back so soon. The person has to be interviewed by the state. I went through that one time and I thought I was being interrogated by marine sergeant. The only thing missing was an order to give her 50 pushups and peel potatoes. Then I had to pass a drivers written exam and drivers test. I’ve been hospitalized 3 other times. The first time in 80’s I didn’t lose my lic. The second time I ended up in the hospital, the Dr. in the hospital said he would have report it. I guess he didn’t get around to it, no one was injured and I retained my lic. and job. But my third in 2009, I was hospitalized for 3 days and definitely lost my lic. I was given disability forms when I was released and my Dr. signed off that I would never work again. Given the span without trouble, 2009 to 2013, I was debating whether to ask my Dr. for a license, but I had some trouble last summer in 2014.
My latest episodes, (mostly auras) only occur at night just going after bed or just after waking up in bed. No daytime problems. After my recent episode of seeing spheres of colours, my Dr. said the MRI was unremarkable and didn’t think they were seizure. I was on 2 ER (Extended Release) meds, stayed on same meds but he changed one med to back to regular 3x’s/day. Even when I see him next and have no problems, I’ll be hesitant to ask him about driving again, especially since he signed off I’ll never work again.
I’m lucky to live near stores and wear a backpack to pick up a few items I need. I have a brother 35 miles (56KM) away and he comes over once a mo. to help to me stock up, especially on large items. What med(s) are you taking to keep you seizure free? I take lamotrigine (Lamictal) and levetiracetam ER (Keppra). I’ll raise your double grr to a triple grr. It would be so nice to drive again and be independent.
Steve