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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Chloe on June 13, 2002, at 19:17:44
The pharmacy keeps giving me diazapam, but my pdoc said she specifically called in Valium. But pharmacy says they need some written form to dispense brand name. Is this stigma r/t valium abuse???
I don't know why, but pdoc thinks brand name is better. Am I going to notice any difference from my little yellow pills to these Mylan orange crumbly things. Do I need to taper or swap slowly? I have been on brand names for about 10 years!
Anyone with experience changing from brand to generic valium???
Thanx
Chloe
Posted by jaby on June 13, 2002, at 22:44:54
In reply to Valium vs generic-should I worry?, posted by Chloe on June 13, 2002, at 19:17:44
All I know is my dr. says they have a cool v-shaped hole in the middle. All my scripts have been for valium and they dispense diazepam also. I wouldn't imagine there's difference in the dosing. I don't have any experience other than the generic, so I'm not too much help. Best of luck!
Posted by 3 Beer Effect on June 14, 2002, at 0:37:14
In reply to Re: Valium vs generic-should I worry?, posted by jaby on June 13, 2002, at 22:44:54
If you have a prescription for Valium most states allow pharmacies to automatically fill it with the generic (to make more money) unless you specifically tell them you want the brand name. Watch out for your insurance though- the last time I got Klonopin I had to pay $78 for it because I didn't have the doctor specify on the prescription that it must be dispensed exactly as he had written it (Brand name Klonopin)- & since a generic is available, my insurance (HMO Blue) made me pay the difference in price b/t Klonopin and clonazepam.
I read in a book that talked about tests that were done on Roche Valium vs. Generic. They went through I think 14 different EEG tests, while the FDA only goes through 4. Anyways there was a big difference in potency & activity heavily in favor of real Valium, & this article specifically was about Valium.
I've also heard people on this board specifically complain about Mylan labs making 'junk' medications. People seem happier with the Purepac Walgreens generic brand.
Roche Laboratories invented benzodiazepines, & it seems that no one else can make them quite right- they must be hard to make because ones you get from Thailand or Mexico are half-strength or less.
3 Beers........
Posted by Elizabeth on June 14, 2002, at 0:49:23
In reply to Valium vs generic-should I worry?, posted by Chloe on June 13, 2002, at 19:17:44
The doctor has to write "dispense as written" on the prescription if you want to get Valium(R); otherwise, by default, the pharmacist will dispense a generic. There's a good reason for this: generics have to be bioequivalent to the name brand, and brand-name drugs are bloody expensive. So I wouldn't worry about it -- just take your meds and go spend the money you save on something nice for yourself! :-)
-elizabeth
Posted by 3 Beer Effect on June 14, 2002, at 11:38:21
In reply to Re: Valium vs generic-should I worry?, posted by Elizabeth on June 14, 2002, at 0:49:23
In the U.S., if you have HMO insurance & the physician writes "no substitutions allowed" or whatever he is supposed to write on the prescription so they cannot give you a generic, you will only pay a copay of $25-40 dollars (depending on the insurance company you have) versus $10-$15 for generic. In many cases this might be worth the extra $15-30 dollars.
There are a few classes of medication where the generics simply don't measure up to the name brands, for whatever reason.
The two biggest offenders seem to be ADD stimulants, specifically Ritalin, & the Benzodiazepines.
I read the charts on name brand Ritalin vs. generic Methylphenidate, & the name brand Ritalin lasts a full half hour longer. The blood level of generic methylphenidate peaks way too fast, resulting in a slightly higher blood level, but then drops like a rock. Generics only have to have the same amount of "active" ingredient (methylphenidate) but can formulate the product with different, [read: cheaper] inactive ingredients/dilutents/excipients, & this difference in tablet formulation/inactive ingredients can have a noticeable effect on drug absorption & the efficacy of the drug.
Also, as I wrote before, EEG tests on Roche-made Valium, consistently indicated that it is much more active & effacious on all measures than generic Valium. It seems that the benzodiazepines as a class are a tough medicine to manufacture (as shown by the 'crapola' 1/2 strength or less benzos available in Mexico & Overseas Countries) & it seems Roche is one of the few companies to get it right (after all they invented benzodiazepines).
Plus to gain approval from the FDA, a generic only has to be 80% as effective as the name brand (although in some cases they can be stronger up to 125% but I think this is quite rare).
3 Beers......
Posted by paxvox on June 14, 2002, at 19:06:34
In reply to Valium vs generic-should I worry?, posted by Chloe on June 13, 2002, at 19:17:44
There have been documented reports that some generics are not as potent (or sometimes MORE potent) than the brand name. If you are going with one of the major companies like Watson, I would feel fairly comfortable. But if your insurance will PAY for the name brand, buy it!
PAX
Posted by Chloe on June 14, 2002, at 20:25:46
In reply to Re: Valium vs generic-should I worry? » Chloe, posted by paxvox on June 14, 2002, at 19:06:34
Thanks everyone for you responses...I have more background if you are interested.
My pdoc has been calling in my scripts as of late. She said she specifically called in "no substitution" brand name Valium. Which I have been on the same dose for 10 year.
ANYWAY, I live in a town with a very high percentage of drug addicts. Heroine, oxycontin, benzos, aceprominzine- a dog/cat tranquilizers! You know how hard it is to get cat tranquilers in this town? Last vet visit, I couldn't get more than three tabs, and I was taking the cat on a long car trip... So I did not feel comfortable discussing this with the pharmacists in a crowded store. So I called when i got home, and the pharmacist said that 95% of their clients take the generic. But I said my script was called in for brand name. The pharmacist told me I would need pdoc to sign a special form, indicating I could take the brand.
Well, my pdoc is on vacation for the next three weeks, and I don't want to call the covering doc about brand name Valium. God, I hate the stigma associated with V. I wish K agreed with me, or even ativan. But I have an paradoxical reaction to Ativan.
So, I have these orange pills from MYLAN labs (I have read in the archives about poor quality with the generic Xanax.) Anyone have any *good* experiences with MYLAN? I just hope bioequivalency is better with V. I am SO med sensitive...
However, generic diazapam seems more "acceptable" in these parts. I feel like if I am buying brand, I must be a drug dealer. It's just not fair to be judged like that.Well, I guess I will just jump in and give 'em a try. I hope you are right, Elizabeth, because I sure could use the extra money! But I don't want to have to modify my dose.
Thanks for listening, if you made it this far!
Take care, All
Chloe
This is the end of the thread.
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