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Question about generic brands

Posted , 4 users are following.

Mrslolad
Mrslolad

Hoping someone can shed some light. I've been on sertraline since late December. Began on the branded Lustral and then put on to a generic which was fine. However, my latest prescription was issued yet another generic and since going on to this one I've felt worse. Last week I was feeling, dare I say fabulous, and since the weekend, when I started the new lot, I've felt increasingly worse. The only thing that has changed is the meds. The doctor has informed me that there is no difference in the many generic brands but surely there must be some difference?

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

Thanks in advance.

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • natalie2608
    natalie2608 Mrslolad

    Posted

    Yes I believe there is and I have a closed prescription for lustral but unfortunately not everyone can get a closed prescription for any brand, even generics sad
  • jGloucs
    jGloucs Mrslolad

    Posted

    Hi Mrslolad,

    i'm so glad someone has posted this question. I've spent years trying to convince my Dr. that I only want Lustral.  I've explained that when I get generic sertraline it is often from Spain or some other European country, and each time I start a different one, I seem to need to readjust. I have a few days when my system seems out of sorts. He assured me they were all the same, BUT when I asked at several pharmacies, the pharmacists weren't as convinced. They admitted that different brands do indeed use different fillers, and some said they had heard of people experiencing similar reactions to different tablets. It drove me mad. I got the Dr. to continue with Lustral, but then got a letter from the practice manager 'suggesting' that as it cost the practice over £100 per year to supply me with it, I 'consider' changing to the generic form.  I asked the pharmacy for a cost comparison and Lustral is indeed very expensive. Something like £12 per pack, compared with 9p per tablet with the generic, so I can understand them wanting to cut the cost. However, Lustral for me, was definitely the best. Generic may have been ok if they didn''t keep switching brands, but they did, so couldn't give them fair comparison. I've now decided to come off them and am tapering very slowly. All well so far. Good luck,

    J

  • natalie2608
    natalie2608 Mrslolad

    Posted

    That's the thing, if you were given one thing and hey stuck to it, then it would be ok: if I had been prescribed the get of at the outset then I would have wanted to continue on that brand. As it happens I have heard that Lustral is the gold standard of his drug and that's one of the reasons it is so expensive. I will take my doc advice and keep on for another 6 months and then slowly off. But I will continue with lustral as long as I can. They have no right to send you a letter like that, shocking! U didn't prescribe lustral to yourself and there are reasons u need to take it! No

    One takes any drug by choice (usually)

  • R0bert
    R0bert Mrslolad

    Posted

    Yes I definitely agree that you need to adjust to different makes of the drug, I'm going to speak to my doctor as I've been for 3 prescriptions and they have all been from different makers. The latest one has definitely caused me problems, mood drop, tiredness, disrupted sleep. All symptoms I had got over. It's not good for us, the patient, sufferer, we can go through hell in getting used to sertraline, reach a point where normality is returning, feeling good, then we get a cheap copy and fall back. Not the best treatment.
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