Migraine Prevention - Generic Topamax Approved

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

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

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 was switched to a generic brand last month by my pharmacist and I've started having headaches again. 

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 

I also switched to generic and noticed an increase in my migraines. I am now back on the name brand.

Sandi,

I don't know where you live, but those prices are way out of line. The average price of 60 brand name Topamax tablets is 100mg is $434. The average price for 60 generic topiramate tablets, 100mg is $50.

I'd be doing some checking on those pharmacies!

Teri

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!!!

Hmmmmmmmmmmm. Now that makes me wonder if maybe they don't have the generic in stock, quoted you the brand name price, and didn't tell you.

Good for you finding the best price! That's a great job of advocating for yourself.

Teri

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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