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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Moldy on September 4, 2010, at 10:54:25
I happened to stumble across an old thread today on alprazolam because my pharmacy is discontinuing its Greenstone brand. I have been on xanax and then alprazolam for 15 years now. Something was wrong with EVERY brand other than xanax or Greenstone. It took me some time to figure it out, and the assistance of a well seasoned pharmacy manager found the brand (during the time I had no complaints) was Greenstone (a sub of Pfizer - also manufactures xanax - Not Updike). Since returning to this brand, my psychiatrist has not changed my dosage for last 6+ years. My psychiatrist explained that the FDA allows a 5% (loss or gain) in ANY generic single dosage. Sooo, in my opinion, Xanax was & is the absolute baseline unchangable dosage per milligram. When its patent ran out and the generics came flooding in, of course your local pharmacy vies for the least expensive line to both save me money, and perhaps they make a little more in sales (especially if you are as sensitive as me and need more to compensate).
Fact: alprazolam is alprazolam no matter what brand its made under, but the differences in its (manufactured) ability to help you are noticeable. If I have been taking a brand made 5% below the minimum standard, I WILL notice something's wrong, because I'm used to taking a brand 5% ABOVE minimum standard - that's a 10% difference!
Also, even if you get your Dr. to specify the brand, expect most pharmacy chains to tell you to go away or take what they have. This has been my contention lately with the pharmacists. They say it's a corporate decision they have no control over. I don't know who to believe because the 'seasoned' pharmacist always gets Greenstone for me, but if I go to any of the other techs (in that same pharmacy) they say: can't be done! ???
Therefore, I went online - found Greenstone & their distributors and to my relief there are 2 chains very close to me (CVS & Target - didn't know they even had a pharmacy).
For the majority of new patients prescribed alprazolam, they may never know the difference. But if you are as sensitive to chem alterations as me, Greenstone is the only brand that has steadily held that monster off my back.
Posted by sewerrat on September 4, 2010, at 12:11:46
In reply to Interesting facts on alprazolam, posted by Moldy on September 4, 2010, at 10:54:25
This applies to a lot of meds,Take prozac a life saver to many year,s ago me for one.Then out came the genrics an i crashed big time. The real prozac now is not so far off the price of the generic,yet 10 years ago it was ten times the price.So no chemist or gp would be able to script you it as the nhs write the rules.Its all about saveing money not live,s
Posted by Phillipa on September 4, 2010, at 12:34:53
In reply to Interesting facts on alprazolam, posted by Moldy on September 4, 2010, at 10:54:25
Moldy if the article or thread was here we talked about it a lot at one point as a pharmacist one day years ago said why are you buying the real xanax when Greenstone is the same. Hence I take Greenstone generic but made by the same company as brand. I found a pharmacy that orders it for me. Costs $9 for a months supply of lmg pulls. Same blue but long shape. CVS here doesn't use Greenstone so look into a small pharmacy they may be willing to order it for you same price as other generics. It is what quite a few babblers did at the time. It is great. Phillipa
Posted by Zyprexa on September 6, 2010, at 1:48:23
In reply to Interesting facts on alprazolam, posted by Moldy on September 4, 2010, at 10:54:25
What I do! Is tell my pdoc to write the prescription for the generic name and manufacturer and product selection not permited. They have to give you that manufacturer. The pharmacy just special orders it. It no more expensive than any other generic. I take perphenazine, sandoz manufacturer, any pharmacy will do it, including mail order.
Posted by Moldy on September 7, 2010, at 7:56:52
In reply to Re: Interesting facts on alprazolam » Moldy, posted by Phillipa on September 4, 2010, at 12:34:53
Thank you Ladies and Gents for the input and I realize that I'm dredging up from an old thread. But our purpose in posting these updates and exploits might help the new comers-who find this on the web - like I did.
Posted by Abby Cunningham on September 7, 2010, at 16:15:19
In reply to Re: Interesting facts on alprazolam, posted by Moldy on September 7, 2010, at 7:56:52
I live in New England where there are many Stop and Shop supermarkets, and my psychiatrist writes a script for Greenstone alprazolam. It is the closest to name-brand Xanax. The pharmacy gets it for me, no problems.
All other generics are not the same, because with alprazolam, even the smallest deviation from exact dosage can cause huge withdrawal symptoms, being such a potent benzodiazepine. I found that with other generics such as sandoz, I was getting w/d sx's and with greenstone, absolutely none. Like thyroid meds, this drug needs to be bioavailable EXACTLY the same across the board.
I despise generics for this reason. I am old enough to remember how it was before generics - much better but who are we to say - the industry has to save money and why not take it out on us. Generics are definitely not the same in many, many instances.
Posted by sukarno on October 11, 2010, at 4:24:36
In reply to Re: Interesting facts on alprazolam, posted by Abby Cunningham on September 7, 2010, at 16:15:19
I found this problem too in Indonesia, but interestingly enough it occurred more often with the "branded generics", whereas the least expensive generic was the most potent (apart from Xanax by Pfizer).
I prefer generic alprazolam made by Dexa Medica (Indonesia). It is about equipotent/bioavailable as the Xanax brand but is the least expensive.
Zypraz and Alganax are much more expensive and I definitely notice that they are less effective after a few days on them. I don't experience withdrawal, but much less somnolence (drowsiness) on Zypraz and Alganax.
I feel that Alganax is the weakest of them all but it is the second most expensive "brand" after Xanax.
Here's a breakdown of the prices (sometimes cheaper is better! :-D
Xanax XR $2.00/tablet!
Xanax $0.70/tablet
Alganax $0.50/tablet
Zypraz $0.40/tablet
alprazolam (made by Dexa Medica) $0.17/tablet
Posted by ed_uk2010 on October 11, 2010, at 14:14:42
In reply to Re: Interesting facts on alprazolam, posted by sukarno on October 11, 2010, at 4:24:36
Cost and effectiveness are not closely related. Manufacturers charge what they can get away with.
Posted by Phillipa on October 11, 2010, at 20:02:34
In reply to Re: Interesting facts on alprazolam, posted by ed_uk2010 on October 11, 2010, at 14:14:42
Greenstone is the best in my opinion. Some other babblers also agree not sure if they currently read. Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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