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Thank you for this article. I just stumbled across it but am happy to see some kind of sense made of the nightmare I've lived through the last few months. I took a (generic) medication that included an addictive compound for a year with no problems. When I found myself suddenly switched to a different manufacturer I thought nothing of it, even after I started experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms. It took a bit of luck online for me to realize the problem was the change in pills and that I wasn't the only one having issues, although I had a more severe reaction than most people. I've tried a few generics now but none have worked as well as the original, which has been discontinued. The fact that it may have been 20% stronger than the non-generic helps me understand why I will probably never find one that works as well as it did, as well as why I likely reacted so poorly to the original alternative. Thanks for sheding some light on the topic!
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For many yrs, I've had Extreme Congestive Heart Failure & have had to take Diruretics. (Have severely damaged Heart, from Myocarditis but my Arteries are VERY GOOD.) Actually, I was in Northridge, CA Hosp. for over 1 month in 2007 in "Gross Heart Failure". When I was well enough for Surgery, a Defibrillator was implanted in my left shoulder (an "ICD"). So I take 2 kinds of Diruretics = Bumex & LASIX, daily. The generic for Lasix is Furosemide. Well, I've found that I have to take 4 tablets of Furosemide to get the same results from ONLY 1 TABLET OF GENUINE LASIX. So, for sure. this proves to me that the Brand Name, in this case, is MUCH BETTER. However, when it comes to ASPIRIN, ALL BRANDS OF ASPIRIN ARE THE VERY SAME; so "swears" my spouse, a retired M.D. Please know that I have to pay extra money to get Genuine LASIX, but it is worth it to me.--from LcS in So. CA.
I also take Paxil and my insurance company made me switch to generic when it came out. It did not work at all, I had panic attacks all day, where I had almost none with the original Paxil. They definately are not the same!!!
Dear Anny-nomus: Glad to get your response, I'm on your side. We have to make the Medical Community understand that thier Generics DON'T WORK! And it's disgusting when the Ins. Companies refuse to pay, even partly for the Geniune Brand Names. Can you get any "free" Samples of Paxil from your doctors? Also, have you tried to get Free Medicine from that Free Co. that Monteil Willaims used to advertise for? Just try searching for "Free Medicine" via Internet. Good Luck! I might add that I wholeheartedly believe in Meditation & Prayer to help our Medicines work. --from your So.Calif. Well-wisher; LcS
I agree as I had the same problem. Have you checked with the drug manufacturer to see if they have a patient assist program? How that works is, go to their website and check the drugs included in their assist program. If Paxil is included print a copy of their application fill out your portion and then take it to your doctor have him fill out the rest and send it in. If they approve you, you generally have either a small payment $5-15 or sometimes no payment at all. They send the drug to your doctor usually enough for 3 months. You will usually have to re-apply once a year. Be sure that you put that you have no insurance coverage for your Paxil, because you don't, you only have coverage for the generic. I hope this helps.
I do not know if you filed a grievance regarding your insurance company's denial. You might check and see. If you are on medicare part d, you have several levels of appeal rights and possibly the right to change plans.
I had the same problem with my pain medication. I changed to a plan that covers the name brand but I have to pay a larger copay. Thats okay because I know the brand name works and I will not have to take so much medication.
Be sure to talk with your doctor and let him know about the problem
Best of Luck
Redhen