Sertraline brand change
Posted , 61 users are following.
I had been taking sertraline made by a company called aurobindo for a few months and I was doing great. Last week when I went to pick up my medication I was given a different brand made by a company called ranbaxy. I thought nothing of it and carried on with my day. I began taking the ranbaxy brand on the 28th of April 2018 and things have slowly been going downhill from there. I've been experiencing insomnia, low mood, irritability, I can't concentrate and I just want to be alone. Yesterday I called the pharmacist and asked whether they could retrieve the old brand for me. They told me that their supplier has stopped supplying them with aurobindo and that there's nothing they can do. I've called some other pharmacists and they're telling me the same thing. I appreciate that the cause of this brand being not dispensed anymore is likely due to a cost saving excersise by the pharmacy but these side effects are undesirable. I really hope they go away with time. I've had such a good experience with sertraline in the past and I hope with time things will get better. I am going to continue taking the ranbaxy brand of sertraline and report back. Has anyone reading this experienced side effects when changing brands of sertraline before?
4 likes, 98 replies
azzzaoo6 max42697
Edited
One thing no one has mentioned is that antidepressants deplete the body of vital nutrients/vitamins . make sure you take a B6 ,B12 ,folic acid. B6 is the most important because its needed to keep the body producing serotonin if you have low B6 the meds won't work proper.
rebecca26239 azzzaoo6
Posted
So true, i feel constantly depleted taking antidepressants got do dizzy due to lack of iron, and always felt better after b6 and b12 they definitely do deplete Thankyou for saying it
rebecca26239 max42697
Edited
Yes this happens EVERY TIME they change my generic brand of antidepressant, it feels like im starting a brand new 1, they did same to me with a new Citalopram today, has not worked, felt very different, its infuriating the doctors dont beleive me because its very real
mark07777 max42697
Edited
hi ive had same troubles ...i was on accord...
and next prescription was medreich..
started getting Tension headaches and negative thoughts and doubts/anxiety about my relationship..
started within a couple of days...I felt so serious and emotional..
I asked for Accord again ..when I picked up prescription i opened pack and they have given me TEVA ...I felt a boost in happiness...still have headaches...but struggling to sleep atm and abit nauseated..but 3 days into new brand..
because I opened pack outside shop there is nothing pharmacy can do...need new prescription...despite not getting what i asked for..seems weird that they are not all the same
sarah02924 max42697
Posted
can anyone please send me the spread sheet?! desperate
ann27898 max42697
Posted
Hey all,
Apparently I'm extremely manufacturer sensitive which, as you know, is extremely inconvenient.
check out Honey Bee Health mail order pharmacy. you can choose your mfgr.
im thinking of going back to accord because northstar is hard to get in western half of us
I started on Northstar (now at 100 mg)
36 hrs acid reflux and fatigue (passed)
night sweats and dreams took a week or 2 to pass
causes psoriasis flares
otherwise...this brand works the best for me
amazing... a miracle ..life changing
Accord worked just as well except I had nightmares every night (that didn't really ever stop)
Aurobindo was horrible
Lupin not much better
im trying 125 to see if it helps... not loving it
overall
my initial fatigue seems to be a new user or dose increase thing
my stomach is more sensitive overall
i hear this is normal
every single time i switch mfgrs i go through some starter symptoms again but they usually are tolerable and short lived.
accord nightmares didn't pass
can't remember which but one made me spacey for quite awhile (did not enjoy) but that passed too
good luck all and thank you all for sharing and having a real conversation. i don't feel quite as crazy...lol (no pun intended)
Shepard- max42697
Edited
whilst searching the internet for exactly the same reason as the original post i came across this thread over the past 8 months I've had various different brand sertraline of the same dosage and in the beginning i also thought it was the side effects or just myself not getting any better however as the months have gone on I've realised i have an adverse reaction to a particular brand with complete negative thoughts and suicidal ideation (crescent brand) after just one dose i see a dramatic change in myself i have had this brand 3 times over the past 8 months and realised it maybe is something to do with the brand and not me! my current prescription 11/09/2023 after 1 100mg dose i went down hill fast. i have asked my gp to change to a different brand (Milpharm) as i find this the best for me i am not in any danger to myself as i am aware of my situation so don't worry about me mentioning suicidal ideation its a result of the particulare brand sertraline crescent i have stopped taking today 15/09/2023 & awaiting a new prescription for Milpharm
Lasse74 max42697
Edited
I have been taking Sertraline for 14 weeks. I had the initial side effects with increased anxiety and general low mood, sometimes suicidal (I held this down to the medication) and feeling crappy. After 8 weeks and 3 different brands of Sertraline (Ranbaxy, Teva and Relonchem) I was back to feeling normal. I did not get on with Ranbaxy and had to change it twice after trying in the beginning. Last Friday as was given a new prescription and this time it was Flamingo Pharma. Whilst not feeling physically as bad as when I took Ranbaxy the anxiety came back within 3 days. As a result of this a few days later my low mood and apathy came back. This is truly difficult to deal with as I was back to my normal self on Relonchem. I did go back to my pharmacy and tried to get back on Relonchem but they did not have any in stock. I am now trying with Teva. I really hope this will work. Has anyone from the forum got any experience with Relonchem or Teva? I am praying that Teva will work. If not is there a pharmacy chain where I can order my Sertraline brand? Any help will be most welcome. If it was not for this thread i would have not understood that it was the change of medication that had such impact after the initial period.
billybinkbonks max42697
Edited
Hi Everyone
First time poster, long time intermittent user. I've been taking Sertraline initially Feb 2020-May 2022, then November 2022 to present.
I was initially prescribed Milpharm brand, which worked really well for me. Very little in the way of initial side effects when I started and body/mind seemed to adapt really well. Early in the first stint I was given a different brand and after a few days noticed anxiety/low mood symptoms creeping in, which I didn't have at all with Milpharm. can't remember what the other brand was. Doctor initially said it was unlikely to be due to the medication as they're all identical, but a pharmacist then explained it absolutely was possible I was reacting differently to the other ingredients. I then managed to track down more Milpharm and had no problems when switching back to them.
Then needed a new prescription a few weeks ago and nowhere has Milpharm. I tried at least 10 different pharmacies. Was prescribed Crescent, which I've had to start taking but I've alternated days between the few Milpharm I had left and the new brand to hopefully ease into change. But I have still noticed a sense of being on edge and general increase in anxiety. I might now try taking 25mg of crescent and milpharm rather than just 50mg of one brand. I really luckily managed to an independent pharmacist who had two final packs of Milpharm left today, but he said he wasn't expecting they'd get any more. Not sure if there are supplier issues or the company has stopped producing them, with so many other companies making them?
I'd also started comparing the different ingredients in brands so slightly updated the original spreadsheet @Max42967 previously did in case its useful for anyone. Or is anyone uses any brands not listed, please feel free to send over the ingredients and I can update it. I still find it ridiculous that such a common medication can have such different effects on people, purely down to largely unnecessary additives.
han87523 billybinkbonks
Edited
Hello @billybinkbonks
I've been using Amarox for 9 weeks, and finally in the last week have started to feel 'normal' again.
I went to a different pharmacists and have been given Accord. I have taken a couple in between Amarox, as I had read about brand changes and side effects so thought I'd wean myself on. Feeling anxious, tired and very sad today so I'm worried about it being a brand change issue.
My friend who is on Citalopram and has has many brand changes over her time, told me to check the PL number and they should be the same if they're the same drug. The PL numbers are different on Amarox and Accord. Does anyone know anything about PL numbers etc on Sertraline?
I can send you the ingredients list for Amarox for the spreadsheet.
simon79253 max42697
Posted
I've been taking sertraline - sun pharma (maybe also called ranbaxy?) 50 mg for 3 months. I've had serious problems with this brand. I've previously been on escitalapram for 15 years (had no problem with the brand cipralex, but had problems with generic meds and reverted back to cipralex immediately). with a gap if 5 years with no meds. this sertaline has caused awful self harming agitation on the first small dose, less than 25 mg. i kept taking the tablets until i was taking a full 50 mg dose, over a 6 week period. my mood settled, but i feel flat. the psychiatrist wants me to take even more of this med. 100mg. BUT on 5 occasions this med had suddenly made me ill. Extreme agitation. Heightened anxiety. And sudden mood changes and feeling generally unwell. I've had to call emergency help on three occasions. 100% there is something unreliable in the manufacture of this particular drug manufactured by Sun Pharma ltd UK. It comes from India, from my research. I've tried changing suppliers but with dire consequences (horrendous heart palpitations), once you've started one brand you're pretty much screwed, you've got to stay with them. All these tablets from different manufacturers are....DIFFERENT. They are not the same. For some people they may not notice too much difference, but a lot of people will. As we all have different metabolisms and sensitivities. The quality of the ingredients and quality of manufacture of this brand is dangerous and could end up in someone taking their own life. These meds are not policed, tested or checked for quality and consistency by anyone. Something needs to be done urgently. I am desperately trying to get off this medication now. If you have been prescribed Sertraline avoid Sun Pharma Ltd products and perhaps any other antidepressant which is not the original brand that designed the drug in the first place. Until there is proper reliable and regular testing of all generic antidepressants by law. Demand the branded drug from day one, if you start a generic antidepressant you may very well find it impossible to change brands from one generic supplier to another. They are all different and it will be like starting or withdrawing from the medication. When your suffering from depression, and anxiety having to deal with a drug which delivers unreliable, poor quality or badly mixed ingredients is LIFE THREATENING. Generic antidepressants should 100% be EXACTLY in every way the same as the original key drug and manufacture needs policing urgently. If you too are experiencing problems with Sun Pharma Ltd Sertraline or any other generic, please report it urgently. Tell your doctor. Tell you MP. Lets together stop this happening to us for the sake of making cheap drugs to save money.
stephpenny max42697
Posted
I came across this post when searching about a brand changes myself and gathering some info before going back to my doctor/pharmacy.
I have NHS prescriptions, and get a month supply at a time. Because of this I have taken a lot of different brands of sertraline, and have to swap brands month to month because that is what my local pharmacist have. These are all the brands I have tried to date:
I had been happy on Sertraline for 6 years, even with the brand changes. Then one month I was given Sertraline Genesis. I was such a mess that month, anxiety attacks and struggling at work because I couldn't concentrate. The next month I was on a different brand and things relaxed and I felt my old self again.
Since that month I have built a record of all the brands I have taken, and what ingredients are present.
For anyone else looking for help with this, these brands are made up of the same ingredients, so if you are use to having one of them, you hopefully could manage ok on any of them, if your pharmacy is out of stock on the usual brand.
I was just given another month supply of Genesis, but refused to accept it, because I can't do a month feeling like that. But gave the list of brands that I am ok with (although they know this from the past too).
But hopefully this information helps someone else struggling with brand change.