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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tinkerbell10 on October 7, 2008, at 12:08:19
I am so confused! So, I have been on Sertraline (Zoloft generic) for about a year. They kept swithing me from the Teva manufactured Sertraline to the Greenstone manufactured Sertraline. I thought they were all the same and didn't think much of it. Then I was on the Greenstone Sertraline for 3 months straight and started feeling anxious again. I put 2 and 2 together and the next refill that I had, I asked them to switch me back to the Teva brand. I very quickly started feeling better with this generic. But I had a thought....if I felt 50% better with the Greenstone generic, 85% better with the Teva brand, maybe I would feel 110% better if I tried the name brand Zoloft! Seemed to make sense, right? So, I asked my psychiatrist about switching to name brand and she had no problem with it. It was extra money that I would have to pay, but who cares if it helps, right? So yesterday was my first try at the brand name Zoloft. I have felt fine, about the same as the Teva generic. Until now, I am starting to feel very spacey. I just want to stare off into space. This is not good when I am suppossed to be working. What do I do now?? I thought that the brand was suppossed to be the best kind! Is it too soon to tell? Am I over-reacting? And, why the heck didn't any of my doctors tell me that their were different generics and never offered me the brand? I am so confused and quite angry! Any advice or opinions would help! Thanks!
Posted by Phillipa on October 7, 2008, at 12:30:51
In reply to ZOLOFT ISSUES!! PLEASE HELP!!, posted by Tinkerbell10 on October 7, 2008, at 12:08:19
Welcome to babble. Great info here. Unfortunately in my experience docs don't get into generics unless you lets says were on namebrand and then the med went generic and your insurance used the generic and you used it and then complained to the doc that it wasn't working the same. Some generics work better than others. Depends on the person taking it. I would say ask the pharmacist which generics they use? Could the brand be too strong or maybe start at a lower dose as generics I think now don't quote me can be 20% higher or lower in potency and all use different dyes and fillers. I sure someone with more knowledge will pop on and answer better than I did. Good Luck and welcome again. Phillipa
Posted by Jeroen on October 7, 2008, at 14:25:46
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT ISSUES!! PLEASE HELP!! » Tinkerbell10, posted by Phillipa on October 7, 2008, at 12:30:51
hi, philippa, weres Ed, you didnt answer this question
Posted by azalea on October 7, 2008, at 15:51:16
In reply to ZOLOFT ISSUES!! PLEASE HELP!!, posted by Tinkerbell10 on October 7, 2008, at 12:08:19
How many milligrams of Zoloft are you taking?
One issue with brand vs generic is the dosage. A 100mg brand name pill must have 90-110mg of active drug. A 100mg generic pill can have 80-120mg of active drug. This is what Phillipa mentioned about the 20% difference. It's possible that you are sensitive to the variability in dose. It's also possible that, as Phillipa mentioned, your mood is affected by the fillers used.
In general, doctors don't prescribe brand name only unless patients have had a bad reaction to the generic version in the past.
> I am so confused! So, I have been on Sertraline (Zoloft generic) for about a year. They kept swithing me from the Teva manufactured Sertraline to the Greenstone manufactured Sertraline. I thought they were all the same and didn't think much of it. Then I was on the Greenstone Sertraline for 3 months straight and started feeling anxious again. I put 2 and 2 together and the next refill that I had, I asked them to switch me back to the Teva brand. I very quickly started feeling better with this generic. But I had a thought....if I felt 50% better with the Greenstone generic, 85% better with the Teva brand, maybe I would feel 110% better if I tried the name brand Zoloft! Seemed to make sense, right? So, I asked my psychiatrist about switching to name brand and she had no problem with it. It was extra money that I would have to pay, but who cares if it helps, right? So yesterday was my first try at the brand name Zoloft. I have felt fine, about the same as the Teva generic. Until now, I am starting to feel very spacey. I just want to stare off into space. This is not good when I am suppossed to be working. What do I do now?? I thought that the brand was suppossed to be the best kind! Is it too soon to tell? Am I over-reacting? And, why the heck didn't any of my doctors tell me that their were different generics and never offered me the brand? I am so confused and quite angry! Any advice or opinions would help! Thanks!
Posted by bleauberry on October 7, 2008, at 20:18:25
In reply to ZOLOFT ISSUES!! PLEASE HELP!!, posted by Tinkerbell10 on October 7, 2008, at 12:08:19
Once you've identified which version works best for you, just stay with that one. Maybe give the brand version more time for a true test. You can always choose your favorite whenever you want.
Posted by raisinb on October 8, 2008, at 9:03:31
In reply to ZOLOFT ISSUES!! PLEASE HELP!!, posted by Tinkerbell10 on October 7, 2008, at 12:08:19
I had the same feeling when I began Zoloft (I was on the generic Teva Sertraline). It faded after a couple of weeks. Just give your body time to adjust to the meds.
This is the end of the thread.
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