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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by fenix on February 16, 2006, at 14:58:21
I am going to need a lot of user feedback for this one.
Anyway, I wanted to gather statistics for this theory I had concerning generic benzodiazepines being low potency compared to brand name.
After reading a lot of posts on several websites I noticed a specific pattern, and I am wondering if there is something more to this pattern. I believe the real issue is the form of the tablet produced and not the company itself. For instance, I have heard people saying that Purepac makes potent clonazepam, and yet others saying that they make very poor potency clonazepam. There was a pattern I noticed now with the people that said that the clonazepam from Purepac was poor, in that they always mentioned a "pink pill". Well, Purepac does produce clonazepam in a pink form being their .5mg tablets.
Well, I noticed myself that their .5 pink pills are very bad, and yet remembering that a few years ago I was on Purepac's 1mg tablets, and how those specific ones were very potent.
So basically the theory is that (at least concerning Purepac's clonazepam, though I am wondering if this concerns many other generic manufacturers) the lower the form of the dosage the lower the quality. In other words, at least concerning Purepac, 2(.5mg) clonazepam tablets does *not* equal one 1mg clonazepam tablet concerning potency.
I want to collect experience from others and see if there is a trend like this. So the questions are:
What benzodiazepine were you on?
From what manufacturer?
What size was the tablet?
How was the potency/quality?
Posted by fenix on February 16, 2006, at 15:17:17
In reply to Benzodiazepine Statitistics Experiment/Potency, posted by fenix on February 16, 2006, at 14:58:21
Oh, and I will also add this question as it may be useful:
And at what dosage per day are/were you taking the benzodiazepine (Example: one .5mg tablet three times per day)?
Posted by James K on February 16, 2006, at 15:56:36
In reply to Benzodiazepine Statitistics Experiment/Potency, posted by fenix on February 16, 2006, at 14:58:21
I've been taking clonazepam Purepac 1mg yellow. prescribed 1 tablet twice daily. I take whenever I want ussually one a day. It's okay, not as immediate and pure feeling as 13 years ago when I could chew a real klonopin for immediate relief.
I have about 30 left than am screwed because I've alienated every doctor I ever had. I'm supposed to go into hospital as soon as I make the phone call, but I bet they take me off it. (too much info I know)
James K
Posted by fenix on February 16, 2006, at 16:03:22
In reply to Re: I'll go first, posted by James K on February 16, 2006, at 15:56:36
> I've been taking clonazepam Purepac 1mg yellow. prescribed 1 tablet twice daily. I take whenever I want ussually one a day. It's okay, not as immediate and pure feeling as 13 years ago when I could chew a real klonopin for immediate relief.
>
> I have about 30 left than am screwed because I've alienated every doctor I ever had. I'm supposed to go into hospital as soon as I make the phone call, but I bet they take me off it. (too much info I know)
>
> James K
Yes, thanks for replying. I remember now that the 1mgs from Purepac were yellow or orangish.
Posted by Phillipa on February 16, 2006, at 21:52:53
In reply to Re: I'll go first, posted by fenix on February 16, 2006, at 16:03:22
Valium l0mg tablets both the brand and mylan. See no difference in potency just price. Boy this surprised me. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by tizza on February 17, 2006, at 1:27:33
In reply to Re: I'll go first » fenix, posted by Phillipa on February 16, 2006, at 21:52:53
I have never noticed a difference in quality in generic brands except price, but I'm not in the states. That includes diazepam, clonezapam, temazepam, oxezapam or nitrazepam.
Posted by yxibow on February 17, 2006, at 4:01:25
In reply to Re: I'll go first, posted by tizza on February 17, 2006, at 1:27:33
> I have never noticed a difference in quality in generic brands except price, but I'm not in the states. That includes diazepam, clonezapam, temazepam, oxezapam or nitrazepam.
And I've never noticed either. And here we go with the generic and "real" benzodiazepines. I'll just sum it up in one word. "Real" haven't been produced in mass quantities in over 20 years because they're fvcking expensive. They're reserved for people on epilepsy who can't afford to have any slight deviation in their Klonopin. But actually that's not even true, because as long as an epileptic takes the same brand and the pharmacy is aware of this, its the same thing.
My doctor put this whole ridiculous argument as this: you have a can of Cambell's soup, and a can of Store Brand soup. They both have beans and rice and whatnot and broth and such, but maybe they have stirred up the pot a bit with additives and so in a blind taste test, someone might be able to point out the "real thing".
It's a total waste of money to spend on "real" Klonopin or "real" Valium.
There is a slight point there if one takes .5mg of brand X Klonopin and 1mg of brand Y Klonopin. Maybe one is 99% and the other is 96% effective overall. So use the one that you think is most potent or up the dose of the one that isn't as potent. Potency will still be achieved, and you'll have money for that rainy day fund.
But that's just my 2c
Jay
Posted by zeugma on February 17, 2006, at 5:10:38
In reply to generics again... » tizza, posted by yxibow on February 17, 2006, at 4:01:25
i've tried four brands of generic clonazepam:
Watson= no problems, ( also have taken watson nortriptyline and buspirone and overall this is a decent manufacturer.}
Eon= I'm not happy with this brand. I freaked out when the Eon buspirone had a few discolored pills thrown in, which I promptly threw out. And have never used an Eon product since
Teva= easily the best of the group. The clonazpam 'tastes' the most unadulterated. The pharmacy that stocks this interrogates me about my prescriptions, (strangely they had no hesitation dispensing nortriptyline, a far more dangerous drug- I loathe these atavistic attitudes, but I suppose I will tolerate the suspicious and angry looks for the sake of the product).
Purepac= easily the worst of the group. The pharmacy that stocks this has the best hours, and gives me the least trouble, but dispenses the most inferior product.
-z
Posted by ed_uk on February 17, 2006, at 15:12:52
In reply to Re: generics again..., posted by zeugma on February 17, 2006, at 5:10:38
Hi Z
We don't have generic clonazepam in the UK, I wonder why? Strange.......all our other benzos come as generics - the brands aren't prescribed anymore.
>The clonazpam 'tastes' the most unadulterated.
Rivotril (the Roche brand, like Klonopin) is tasteless. I like that.
>The pharmacy that stocks this interrogates me about my prescriptions.....
What do they say to you Z?
Kind regards
Ed
Posted by djmmm on February 17, 2006, at 15:19:29
In reply to Re: generics again..., posted by zeugma on February 17, 2006, at 5:10:38
> i've tried four brands of generic clonazepam:
>
> Watson= no problems, ( also have taken watson nortriptyline and buspirone and overall this is a decent manufacturer.}
>
> Eon= I'm not happy with this brand. I freaked out when the Eon buspirone had a few discolored pills thrown in, which I promptly threw out. And have never used an Eon product since
>
> Teva= easily the best of the group. The clonazpam 'tastes' the most unadulterated. The pharmacy that stocks this interrogates me about my prescriptions, (strangely they had no hesitation dispensing nortriptyline, a far more dangerous drug- I loathe these atavistic attitudes, but I suppose I will tolerate the suspicious and angry looks for the sake of the product).
>
> Purepac= easily the worst of the group. The pharmacy that stocks this has the best hours, and gives me the least trouble, but dispenses the most inferior product.
>
> -zI haven't noticed any difference between the Watson version, and the brand name(.5mg pills). The only thing I miss is the little K that's cut out of the center of the pill!
Posted by zeugma on February 17, 2006, at 18:30:48
In reply to Re: generics again... » zeugma, posted by ed_uk on February 17, 2006, at 15:12:52
hi Ed,
I was asked once 'so how much do you really take per day?' i found this question to be inappropriate and refused to answer. i took the script away and went somewhere else. let me just say that i am not prescribed a high dose at all. if the pharmacist/clerk had asked me 'how much nortriptyline do you really take per day' i would have found the question as upsetting.
-z
Posted by Greif on February 17, 2006, at 22:03:27
In reply to Re: generics again... » ed_uk, posted by zeugma on February 17, 2006, at 18:30:48
Why is purepak the worst?...Walgreens only carrries Purbak Klon and Xanax. .5 mg Klon score line worthless...most likely the cheapest to buy and insurance companies pressure big chains to carry Purepak. I am going to try the Teva which CVC said they would get for me.
Posted by Phillipa on February 17, 2006, at 22:23:49
In reply to Re: generics again..., posted by Greif on February 17, 2006, at 22:03:27
CVS carries mylan. I get my valium there. It works fine I've paid for the brand name. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by tizza on February 18, 2006, at 0:17:45
In reply to Re: generics again... » zeugma, posted by ed_uk on February 17, 2006, at 15:12:52
> Hi Z
>
> We don't have generic clonazepam in the UK, I wonder why? Strange.......all our other benzos come as generics - the brands aren't prescribed anymore.
>
> >The clonazpam 'tastes' the most unadulterated.
>
> Rivotril (the Roche brand, like Klonopin) is tasteless. I like that.
>
> >The pharmacy that stocks this interrogates me about my prescriptions.....
>
> What do they say to you Z?
>
> Kind regards
>
> EdWe have rivotril and paxam here, no klonopin but we don't get generic Ativan, that I'm aware of. It's the only one you still have to pay big money for and it one of the older ones
Posted by Sonny Liston on February 18, 2006, at 12:06:07
In reply to Re: generics again... » ed_uk, posted by tizza on February 18, 2006, at 0:17:45
I take 1 MG of generic Klonopin(TEVA)from CVS. Have also taken .5 mail order from CAREMARK. Not sure who the manufacturer is of the .5 yellow tablet with .5 scored on one side and "273" on the back. It's repacked for CAREMARK.
I prefer brand in Klonopin but it's too expensive.
Posted by ed_uk on February 18, 2006, at 14:16:58
In reply to Re: generics again... » ed_uk, posted by zeugma on February 17, 2006, at 18:30:48
Hi Z
>I was asked once 'so how much do you really take per day?
I would consider that very rude and inappropriate.
Ed
Posted by fenix on February 20, 2006, at 4:57:07
In reply to Re: generics again... » zeugma, posted by ed_uk on February 18, 2006, at 14:16:58
Ok everyone, thanks for your feedback, I appreciate it. However, I guess it would be better to find this kind of data in another place.
Like I said before, I think there is a connection between the low dosage generic pills (.5mg clonazepam, 2mg diazepam, etc.) and quality. I think it might have something to do with the companies saving money as it seems that the higher dosage forms of the pills are more popular in the long run.
This is the end of the thread.
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