As I cannot use triptans due to a heart condition and I have hemiplegic migraines, I need a preventative for my migraine disease. I have been on the Topamax for over 8 years. I went off of it for about 18 months due to some concerns of both my neuro and myself, but my migraines were out of control during that time eriod.
We agreed that the Topamax was the best to control this disease and we tapered back up to 400 a day at 200 twice a day. I am back to my average of 1 migraine every 2 weeks that lasts 24 to 72 hours (usually 24) and I have the meds to deal with them and a very good neuro that I trust and who trusts me with the needed meds.
Gilda T, I have hemiplegic migraines also and have been on Topamax for about 5 years. It has been a blessing. I've gone from having 1 to 2 a day to having 1 to 2 a week. For me and my family that is a great improvement. I'm on the same amount you are. I totally agree with you. I LOVE Topamax!!! Bev T
People need to be careful about generics. Just because there is now a generic for Topamax, it doesn't mean it is the exact same thing and will work the same way, with the same side effects. Generic does not always mean equivalent.
If you compare different generics for the same drug, even, sometimes you will see different active ingredients and different side effects. I've stopped switching to a lot of generics because of these issues.
Recently, I even had a warning printed on a generic medication that I needed to check with my doctor before switching to another brand equivalent because it could cause serious problems (for hypothyroidism).
You are correct.. they are NOT the same!!! I was SWITCHED autotmatically by my pharmacist to the "generic" topamax on my last refill due to the fact that now that the generic version is available my insurance company didnt want to pay for the brand name....
I have taken it for two nights now and I am a MESS!!! I Have taken the brand name for over 3 years now for my trigemina neuralgia.... and since Monday have had more sensitvity a major flare up... sick to my stomach... vomiting.... diareaha (however you spell it)... and I know it's due to the generic vs the Brand name....
Spoke to my neurologist... she will have to contact my insurance co..... but I mean.. they really cannot just change up peoples meds like that... especially for people with conditions which DEPEND on them for daily relief....
Oh you are so right. Our Ins. Co. made me accept generic and I became one step shy of commatos. The manufacturer of the generic I took, was Teva Pharmacuticals from Israel. I emailed them and told them their product was not identical but, got no response. I discovered that some of the mg's of Brand Topamax will not be available this month. I can't figure out if the Pharmacuticals are in control of the Ins co or visa verse. But, I cannot function with the migraines I used to have before Topamax.
I'm actually a pharmacy student and I'll tell you right now; If the ACTIVE ingreds. are different from the orig. then it is not a Generic. The whole point is to make the same drug due to a lack of a pat. Topamax, which i take, has actually shot up in price due to this which is why your insurance doesn't want to pay for it. (up to $1150.00 dollars now). If you want to get around your insurance, go to the MD/Internal Medicine Doctor you are seeing and explain your violent reaction to the Topamax Generic. Generally speaking, with a "Health" related endorsement from your Doctor, the Insurance company will cover the Name-Brand rather than make you ill as it's better for them to have you well.
Hope that helps some.
Gavin,
Keep learning. You are mistaken. The amount of the active ingredient can vary up or down by up to 20% in a generic and still be a legal generic.
And, no, many (if not most) insurance companies will NOT cover the band name with a "Health related endorsement" from the doctor. Many of us have had that experience.
Teri
I'll say! I'm on generic Topamax to control migraines. I started off on generic manufactured by Apothecary which has always worked very well, but about 3 months ago the pharmacy switched to a new manufacturer called Torrent. My migraines have been out of control since the switch. I decided to do some research today and called the pharmacy to find out the manufacturer's names. When I told the pharmacist that the pills by Torrent weren't working, they told me that they would special order from Apothecary at no extra charge. So when your pharmacy pulls a switch, just talk with them and see if they can help.
Thank you...thank you. I had just revisted my neurologist due to bad migraines and dizziness (loosing my balance) after being treated a year ago for migraines. I had also had a temporal biopsy in May 2009. She had increased the generic brand of Topomax but luckily I did not increase the meds.
I would cry for no reason and wonder why. I would almost fall over, not knowing when. The migraines had returned severely.
I ran into a lady that told me my problem was the generic brand (she had discovered). I took less, which I know is not good without consulting my doctor. I am a whole lot better. The major symptoms are gone. I can only imagine what would have happened if I had took the daily increase for twice a day. The lady, Doris, saved my life, to which I am grateful.
I am going to ask my doctor to contact my insurance company. Thank you again.
Curious if the other brand of generic worked out? I had been on brand name Topamax previously. I went through the entire ordeal with the insurance not covering it once the generic came out so I did try the generic. I don't know what brand it was, but it wasn't working. My migraines increased and I was sick to my stomach. I switched back to the brand name and covered the cost. I was laid off and eventually couldn't afford it at all. Now I have started up again, but thought I'd try the generic as again this insurance I have now won't cover the brand name (sigh). This manufacturer is Torrent so I am wondering it I should try a different company. Again I am nauseated and this time I am having breast tenderness (like a super rare side effect from what I can find.. crazy!) LOL, one would think I am pregnant from the sounds of it but that would be impossible haha. I had the worse migraine I've had for a long time today. I thought my head was splitting in two. It may be worth paying for the brand name. anyway.. did the other generic work better? or has anyone else had any luck trying different generics out? (if you are patient enough to go through all that)
Just curious if anyone has actually paid for generic yet? I work in a pharmacy (very small so we don't even have any Topamax brand or generic on our shelf right now) and I was looking in our wholesaler catalog. All the generic brand above are listed but are not available at the wholesaler yet. My boss told me a while back (when Imitrex went generic) that 1 generic company will have 6 months sole sales then they all get to sell.
The generic was listed at $6-7 for most of the generics/60 tabs for 100mg strength (which is what I take) compared to $300+ for the brand. That's the PHARMACY cost. But the RETAIL cost (ie patient cost) were both listed close to $420.
So, I the last time I got my Imitrex filled, they gave me brand (a week or so after the generic came out) and I got a letter from my insurance company. I got my topamax filled the Sat before the generic came out on Monday. So I have about 2 weeks to go. Hoping I can pay the generic copay and that the generic will work!
Yes, I paid for generic Topomax just last week and it was a major thrill!!! I had been expecting to have to pay around the mid $400's for regular topomax but with the release of generic topomax I only paid $28 for a one month supply at Costco pharmacy. I was so happy that my pharmacy did that substitution for me and then told me about it when I got there!!! (You see, I reached stage 2 of medicare prescription coverage for this year already where I now have to pay for my medicines out of pocket until I pay out thru the nose...)
I want to put in a plug for Costco pharmacies if I may - Teri indicated in her article that the "average" price for a months supply would run around I believe she said $100...well, I use topomax 200 mg tabs twice daily and my cost was $28 at Costco.
This is not the only medication I take where Costco saves me tremendously over other retail pharmacies...and people, you do NOT HAVE TO BE A MEMBER to use their pharmacy to take advantage of their pricing. However, if you do become a member, and choose to get the executive style membership, even your medication purchases can be a contributor to your total $$$$ purchases towards the money back at year end so with what I spend on meds alone I'm cool with that!
I also wanted to comment that my costco was highly proactive in having in stock and filling for me topiramate(generic) within one week of its being available so I am very happy with how they handle my pharmacy needs and questions.
I use to take topamax until it cost to much for me to buy. I had to have my dr. change my medsall of them and we had to start all over which was so hard. now that I have some meds right, i am not going back, maxalt is the only one I take for my BIG migraines when they come on. I still have my migraines 24/7.
i just was switched to the generic for topamax. i have been taking it for 3 days and have had migraine on and off since switching. It is that time of the month where my migraines tend to flare up, but not usually three days in a row. just wondering if anyone else switched and it was not working for them.
I actually landed on this page b/c i wanted to search and see if I was just craxy or if anyone else was having the same problem as me with the generic. Thank goodness for blogs now a days or else I would feel completely crazy half of the time! Like many others, I was recently automatically switched to the generic from topamax and my migraines have come back almost to what they were before I was taking nothing. It's like I'm not even taking meds at all anymore. The cost difference is phenomenal, but I truly don't think that it is worth it. As if dealing with a disease that attacks at a moments notice isn't frustrating enough...I buy my meds in 3-month prescription fills, hoy
wow - every other pharmacy was 300 to 400 plus dollars for the generic (topimarate) but the costco cost is 25.18!!! and the previous comment is accurate - YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A MEMBER to take advantage of this savings. They may make a customer out of me because of this kind of dealing alone! Who does business like this today?
I just called every pharmacy from Sams to CVS TODAY in the 30017 (gwinnett county, georgia) and got those prices for the 60 count 100mg. I was shocked myself after hearing the good news about the prices becoming reasonable. Believe me, I will be giving my business to Costco and not even buying a tic-tac at those other pharmacies!!!
I started the generic topamax two weeks ago and have gone from consistently controlled migraines of two/week to four this week and feeling like crud. My doctor suggested if it didn't seem effective to try taking a half dose in the morning and half at night, because the generic may not be delivering an even output through the day, even though the ingredients has to be identical. I will try that before demanding "no substitute on the scrip and paying the higher co-pay.
I switched to the generic for three weeks and was absolutely MISERABLE!! Had the migraines every 3 days and was living on Treximet which made me a zombie. Then when I didn't have a migraine I was walking around with a residual headache or a migraine about to come on... So finally 2 days ago I went into a 24 hour pharmacy and talked to one overnight when nobody else was there to distract them and he said they put fillers in the generic that are different and might be messing up with the actual way the medicine is working effectively for me.. So I paid cash for another month of my Topamax just to get back on it because I was desperate for a life here.. 2 days later now I can report I am back to new and will NEVER go back to the generic.. EVER....
Read my post on #3. I totally understand Zombie and miserable. I sat in Walgreens until they allowed me to leave one afternoon because I was so doped up. I was a mess. We had to beg the Ins. Co. to reissue Brand name. Tell all your Drs. and everyone that can get this info to the ins underwriters, I guess. Then to FDA?
I am so sick from this I am dizzy and can't move fromt he generic.
I almost blacked out and became very sick in a car, It happened while sleeping in the middle of the night, and at any time the generic effect wants to kick in We need to file a class action Law suit. Insurance decides to give this med. They act as the "Gods" of the ecause of this our health? I am truly not well and getting worse because of the generic. I will contact my ins. blog and try to get topomax.
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I had to try the generic before the benefit program would approve the brand name. I tried the generic, and after being on the brand name medication for years, it seemed as if I suddenly stopped, and I was feeling somewhat "out of context".
I threw the generic in the garbage, and had my physician call for a prior authorization to override the ancillary chages.
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It didn t work in my case and it used to provoke diarrhea. Just my experience. I hope it works for other people.