I've been on mirt for 7weks

I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your friend.

I can’t comment on how mirtazapine is effecting you, but I think the generic manufacture of any prescription drug can make a difference. I take two meds for epilepsy. One time I was dispensed meds made by a different generic manufacture than what I had been taking before. I began to have problems. My Dr. thinks all generics are equal to each other and to the name brand. After doing research on the web, they are far from it. I found some other epileptics having problems with generic brands that didn’t work. Although generics have the same medical compound, according to some people, they have a leeway of containing up to +/-20% of the active ingredient. The biggest factor seems to be in the binders, the chemicals that hold and release the med into you system. I found out even though the patent runs out on medicines, the patent on the binders that the non-generic manufacture developed never expires. So each generic manufacture have to develop its own binders that hold and release the medicine into your system. Some of these generic drugs may be released too fast or too slow into the body. Some people can’t even tolerate the dyes and fillers that some generic manufactures add to their version. I spent a lot of time on the web and found out what generic manufacture worked the best for other people with epilepsy. I asked my Dr. to write down the generic manufacture of a re-fill on my anti-seizure meds. I live in the U.S. and can only afford my meds through my insurance and they only cover the cost at one drug store chain. The store essentially said, you get what generic brand we dispense to you. They won’t supply me with the generic manufacture of my preference after reading what other people had to say. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has received numinous complaints and just started comparing generics to non-generic meds. It’s about time! Anti-seizure meds rank among the top 5 on the list of testing. Most generics seem to be made in China and India. I don’t equate either country with quality control standards of any product.

Take care, steve

I can't make any general comment on this, but in my own specific experience the make of Lithium does matter. I am no longer on it but I have always taken Priadel (Lithium). On one occasion I realised that I had been given another make of Lithium. I had to return it to the pharmacist and go to another pharmacist.

I have no idea why this should be the case or how I found this out..

See http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Depression/Pages/MedicineOverview.aspx?condition=Depression&medicine=Lithium%20Carbonate&preparation=Lithium%20carbonate%20200mg%20modified-release%20tablets

"if changing to a different brand or form of lithium, your dose may need adjusting. Your prescriber will monitor the levels of lithium in your blood and make dose adjustments"