My wife just was given this as a substitute for hyoscyamine becasue it is no longer available.  We were also told that Hyomax SR will no longer be avialable.  Now they did not charge us more for this than the generic.  It looks like they are killing the generics to make you go back to the name brand or there is a problem with this type of drug.  Sorry I cannot help you anymore.

Like you, I have also had a problem with this medication.  So I checked out the companies who distribute it.  Both were located in Dallas.  However, I tried calling one of them and was told that the phone was no longer in service.  I contacted the other one by email again on July 1, 2008.  I had emailed them about a month or so before then.  I have been on Symax-SR for a number of years and it has been the only thing that has helped control my condition, so I was desperate to find some Symax-SR or a generic.  It had become unavailable  sometime in March I believe, as my April RX was filled with the generic.  To make a long story shorter, here are the emails and the replys. (SOME EMAILS WERE SENT DIRECTLY FROM THEIR SITE, SO DON'T HAVE THOSE)

FROM COMPANY AFTER EMAILING THEM FOR SOMEONE TO PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE MY INQUIRY.

Becky,

I am so sorry no one returned your messages.  Symax SR is not being discontinued and can still be ordered by your pharmacy.

Amy Brown

Capellon Pharmaceuticals

Executive Administrative Assistant, and Sales

817.595.5820 ext 276

817.595.5935 fax

MINE BACK TO HER:

 Amy,

Thank you so much for finally answering my question.  I was beginning to think you were going out of business or something.

However, contrary to what you claim, Wal-Mart in Covington and Target in Slidell have both claimed they can't get it.  Actually, Wal-Mart told me that their wholesaler is no longer carrying it and gave me the generic instead.  The next time I went in, they told me that even the generic would no longer be manufactured.  Target told me today that even though Symax is in their system, every RX for hyoscyamine they have received lately is on back order.  Now, there is clearly something wrong with this picture.  Perhaps this should be brought to someone's attention.  I will keep trying to call different pharmacy's such as Walgreen's and CVS to see if maybe they can obtain it for me.  In the meantime, if you KNOW of a pharmacy in my area where I can get Symax SR, please let me know.  Thank you.

HER ANSWER TO THIS ONE:

Due to one of our competitors going out of business the demand for our products with hyoscyamine has risen and therefore backorders did occur. We received Symax sr two days ago so contact your pharmacies and notify them that the wholesalers should infact be expecting it soon.

I will also have my boss call you.

Amy Brown

Capellon Pharmaceuticals

Executive Administrative Assistant, and Sales

817.595.5820 ext 276

817.595.5935 fax

So, if all works out all right, the generic and brand names should be again available within a few weeks or months.  From what I understand, Hyomax-SR is considered a Brand name, such as Levbid, Symax-SR, etc.  Therefore, yes, back to brand name prices until the generic gets back into distribution.  Hope this helps some of you understand what has happened.  Good luck and just check with your Doctor about the Hyomax, it is essentially the same, but it's good to ask anyway.  (By the way, the boss never called me.)

To add to my previous answer, I saw my doctor last week, and he said Hyomax is ok to take as a substitute for Levbid, or generic Levbid. It ia a case where a prescription drug "spun off" from a generic drug and not the other way around.

My wife was also taking generic levbid.  Hyoscyamine was one of the 16 generics on the market.  My wife took Hyoscyamine .375 ER at a cost of $4.00 for 30 tabs.  All of the generics have now been removed from the marketplace and the name brand Levbid has since doubled in price.  No insurance companies cover Levbid.  Two new "generics" are now available; Hyomax, and Symax.  They are both priced up in the $40.00 range for 30 tabs.  BTW my wife's dosage is 120 tabs per month or about $160.00 as compared to the $16.00 paid in the past for generic Hyoscyamine.  Our Urologist has substitute generic Oxybutin 5mg 3/day at a cost of $6.00 as one of the Target $4.00 Rx program.  Go figure!  Someone is taking advantage of needy patients. 

Disgusted,

Bob

Codi

2/ 2/10 11:27pm

Disgusted...that's putting it mildly!!!  My urologist has had me on Ditropan XL and Hyoscyamine for almost 15 years.  These two meds have worked together wonderful to treat my bladder spasms.  I am paraplegic with a neurogenic bladder; thus I cannot control my bladder spasms.  My insurance company covered Hyoscyamine for 14 years, and then suddenly quit covering it without advanced notice to their clients.  When questioning the insurance company as to why they quit covering it, they stated it was because the drug is not FDA approved.  Upon contacting the drug manufacturers, I was told that this drug is not required to be FDA approved because it has been on the market for over 50 years.  They also stated it has been thru all kinds of testing proving to be a safe and effective drug; thus enabling it to be sold on the market.  It is a "true desi" drug (determined to be a safe and effective drug).  I have been battling with the insurance company for almost a year now about covering this drug -- still no success. 

Now the price of this drug has almost tripled what it used to be 15 years ago.  I've checked to see if there's any programs available to assist with the expense of this drug, and have come up emptyhanded.  My urologist has sent in documentation to the insurance company that he insists on NOT switching me to another drug because of the fact that Hyoscyamine and Ditropan XL have worked together so well in treating my bladder spasms for so many years.  Insurance company still refuses to cover drug.  Unfortunately, I have to depend on Hyoscyamine for the rest of my life.  It's so disheartening how these drug companies manipulate "medically needy" people by charging such unreasonably high prices on their drugs; especially when these "medically needy" people HAVE to depend on these drugs in order to maintain their health.  Over the past year, many pharmacists have told me that they have numerous patients who take Hyoscyamine and have expressed great concern regarding uncertainty of how they will be able to continue to afford this drug.  It seems to me that with a high number of patients truly needing this drug, there should be some kind of action that could be taken by all of us --- in order to get these drug companies to be realistic about their pricing.  It has been suggested to me to get a local Congress rep. involved in this matter.  That's my next step.  

I have the same problem. CVS just gave me a brand name Levbid, after I was taking the generic. The generic worked awesome and since I've started taking the brand name I've been getting headaches and dizziness. I'm trying to get the HyoMax SR to see if I can tolerate it, but CVS is telling me that it's a different medication and that I need a different prescription. So, now I have to make a dr.'s appmt. just to get this studpid prescription that may or may not work for me. I'm very frustrated!

Sandy

8/24/09 1:53pm

I've also had severe headaches and dizzy with blurred vision. But I'm taking Hyomax-sr 0.375 MG Tablets, so i believe they are all the same. I was fine w the generic as well. It's hard for me to be at school and to study at home.

 

Amy from the company who makes Syomax just called and was extremely rude. Will somebody please bring back the generic?????

My son was perscribed Levbidfor his stomach problems but recived Hyomax-SR from the Pharmacy with no explaination for the substitute.

After taking this medication for two days with no relief, he found the whole undisolved pill in his stool, we took another one, put it in hot water and over 12 hours later it is still solid as a rock.

Even if it has the same active ingedients it won't help you if it does not dissolve.

I will be reporting this to the FDA's Medwatch dept. 1-800-FDA-1088, I encourage all to do the same with any problems you have with medications, If we don't these companies will contiue to gouge us for meds that don't work. 

Levbid is the Brand.  I was taking Hyomax SR 0.375 mg. and it allieviated all my symptoms.  That was produced by Aristos Laboratories.  Aristos no longer produces the 0.375 mg strength, but does still produce the sub-lingual forms.  Aristos Hyomax SR 0.375 was coated.  About a month ago, I went to the pharmacy to pick up my refill.  I was told that the pharmacy changed suppliers but it's the exact same formulation and I should have no issues.  Well, it may be the same formulation, but it is NOT coated.  A new company, Paddock Laboratories, now has taken over where Aristos left off.  Paddock's Hyomax SR 0.375 has NO coating.  A pharmacist called me from Paddock and told me that it doesn't need to be coated.  I beg to differ.  For my particular condition, the coating is absolutely necessary to allow the medication to reach the area that needs to be treated.  Without the coating, the drug dissolves before it can treat the spasms.  The good news is that Levbid is available and the brand.  My co-pay will now be $12 instead of $5 through insurance.  I'm writing this post to possibly help others in my situation.  See how much it will cost you.  I do hope this help.