Alembic Fluoxetine Make Me Sick

Updated

I've been taking a generic green & white capsule of 20 mg Prozac (fluoxetine) for a few years. My pharmacy gave me blue capsules mfg by alembic this time & I am feeling so sick for 4 days now. I thought I had a stomach bug, but I've never had a bug linger this long. I had diarrhea & vomiting on day 2 & 3, jittery sleep, then deep bouts of sleep, bad headache, night sweats & nightmares.

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1

Ditto! I almost puked this am, and have been sick all day. Had major side effects after my pharmacy switched me to blue caps. Was taking Sandoz white and green for years with no problem. I called my pharmacy and requested alternative as I can’t barf every day

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Re: GBG (# 1) Expand Referenced Message

I recently got a refill and my pharmacy switched to Alembic generic (dark blue capsules). I took it only about three times and I got the worst heartburn and indigestion I can remember, ever. I felt like I'd been poisoned. It lasts about 18 hours no matter how much water I drink.

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3

What are the markings on the capsules in question? Can you please post back with more details?

The FDA does warn that this medication may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, headache, mood changes, and weight loss.

This medication may also be used to treat anxiety, as well as some perimenopausal symptoms.

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4

Re: Verwon (# 3) Expand Referenced Message

I think our primary message here is that we've taken this medication successfully for quite a while and never had a problem until the switch to a particular generic manufacturer, Alembic. I had refills for both 20mg and 40mg. They both made me feel as if I'd been poisoned. I'm in search of another pharmacy (not Walgreens, which is where many of us got this pill) to find a generic that I can tolerate. I did very well on all the others I took, most recently Sandoz. Just to be clear, I'm speaking only of fluoxetine, no other med.

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5

My pharmacy switched to these pills as well and I got sick as well - very sick to my stomach - vomiting, stomach cramps, feeling terrible! It has taken me a month to figure out it was the Alembic fluoxetine. My depression has been creeping back as well. Something is wrong with this medication. Thank goodness I found a pharmacy that carries the white and green generics that I took for years with no problems. I'm reporting to FDA, I've emailed Alembic, and reported to Walgreens and my physician. Probably won't do any good, but at least I know for my health! Hope you feel better as well.

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Re: Writerly One (# 2) Expand Referenced Message

Yes I have had the same symptoms with the change to alembic. I've never had heart burn before, I couldn't sleep it was so painful it's the worst at night.

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7

Ty90 (# 5) --

This last week I was lucky; RiteAid was willing to order the Sandoz generic for me and I'm so grateful for their help. They worked with me and were very accommodating. Alembic is a dangerous hazard to health.

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Re: Pearl (# 5) Expand Referenced Message

I have had the same problem when I was switched to Alambic. I am back to Sandoz and I am doing fine. I was getting anxiety back and panic attacks. No good drug

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9

I just take my first pill of Mfg Alembic and I just read the reviews I hope not having the same situation I know I used the tablet and is the worst thing it happened to me, Now before I used the white capsule and for me it is the best.... now I need to stick with the mes until I finish the last pills and the pharmacy give me 90 I can’t believe this..... thank everyone to share your story.....

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10

Same here!! Yesterday I had the WORST HEARTBURN IN MY LIFE! I had to run into Walgreens to grab some antacids (which never did the trick). Now I’m gagging myself with gas and have diarrhea. Went to the doc today and she said IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE DYE that ALEMBIC uses. I’m so glad I asked because I was about to stop taking it. She wrote a new script for me for TABLETS and made a note that the tablets were medically necessary. I am going to go to the FDA website to log an adverse event and you all should too. This will bring it to the drug maker’s attention as well as the FDA in case other meds use the same dye.

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Re: chantoune (# 8) Expand Referenced Message

How’d you get back to sandoz? I’m having no luck. Nobody will accommodate me they’re just saying it’s discontinued. I feel so sick on anything else. Also very worried about weight gain with alembic?

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12

Re: Taylor (# 11) Expand Referenced Message

It's not discontinued, as far as I know. RiteAid in my neighborhood was able to order it for me, but Walgreen's wouldn't budge. The pharmacist told me that was all "they" (corporate) would send, and I believe it. The pharmacist is low on the totem pole too. If you can't get Sandoz, try Teva. I had that and it worked okay. I also got that from RiteAid while I was waiting for the Sandoz to come in.

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Re: Writerly One (# 12) Expand Referenced Message

Walgreens told me the same thing and the pharmacist was rude didn't care said it was the same thing and wasn't willing to see if they had any leftover on stock or find an alternative basically told me it doesn't exist anymore. I told my doctor I needed the real prozac if Walgreens wasn't going to budge he said this happens a lot with the Walgreens and others and that I shouldn't have to pay more because they decided to which. He said it's out there I just need find the right pharmacist that carries it or will order it for me.

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Re: Writerly One (# 12) Expand Referenced Message

Thank you so much for your response! I’ve been so stressed and upset. Sandoz has been working for me for nearly 5 years and I’m nervous to switch. They gave me the alembic and I’m nervous. How long were you on teva, did you notice weight gain? Anxiety?

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Re: Taylor (# 14) Expand Referenced Message

Not on Teva very long, just while I was waiting for the Sandoz order. My biggest concern was that I could tolerate it, and I did. The Walgreens pharmacist told me the Alembic (blue) Prozac made a lot of people sick. But obviously, their bottom line is their primary concern. We all know that not every generic drug is the same, regardless of what the *experts* say.

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16

Well, I just found this on the FDA website stating that Sandoz has discontinued manufacturing of Fluoxetine.

accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/drugshortages/dsp_ActiveIngredientDetails.cfm?AI=Fluoxetine+Capsules

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Re: SMink (# 16) Expand Referenced Message

I just heard this from Rite Aid as well. This is just a bummer. :( They gave me a generic made by Aurobindo. Does anyone have experience with this one?

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18

Re: Pearl (# 5) Expand Referenced Message

Me too! Took a couple weeks to realize it fur sure was the new Alembic Blue Prozac. Hours of pain after taking it . Never had a problem before with my white generic Prozac but this seems like poison. I wish I knew what the inactive ingredients are. I reported it to the FDA too. Wishing everyone well.

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Re: Taylor (# 11) Expand Referenced Message

Yes!! I was gaining weight on it too... but not the white generic. The blue alembic is poison for me. Headaches, intense heartburn after taking ... ugh

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Re: Berry (# 19) Expand Referenced Message

Hi berry, which were you gaining weight on? TEVA? Alembic made me anxious and sick, but I’ve been in TEVA for two weeks and feel I’m noticing weight gain??

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30

This is absolutely ridiculous!! I'm my mother's caregiver as she has dementia/Alzheimer's. With that said, she had been on the same med regiment for well over 3 years with very good results and her decline was very very good in the sense that it was a very slow even slide. As a matter of fact, the deminita doctor that she was seeing for two years had said that we need not have another appointment, and that to contact them if there was any changes. He felt that there was no need as I had been doing a good job within keeping her mind going and active and seen within those two years a very good even decline if you will. Then, Walgreens changed to these dark blue ones and said they were from a different mfg. Even my mother knew something was wrong when she seen them. Anyway, she now has went from being a happy slightly forgetful loving person to this mean, aggressive, confrontational person, has issues now going to the rest room when she rembers to, doesn't want to eat and shakes and rocks back and fourth like a child. I noticed for about a week a slow decline within her as she began to become more clingy and needed to be around me almost 24/7. I felt that this was just the progression, until 4 days ago when I had to take her into the hospital because she began all of the above to the point she tryed jumping out the window and running away from the house. It was as if she changed overnight! The only thing that had changed from her 3 years if slow decline was the fact that Walgreens changed her refills to this other mfg and said it was the same meds just a different mfg. They should have know by now how sensitive she is to any form of change in meds and if this has made my mother progression faster and she just can't come back from this someone is going to be held responsible! I'm so freakn mad!! I do hope that your feeling better, and I've got her back on her old ones but only after 2 freakn hospital visits and a doc visit! I will be finding out who I need to contact as well! I have been in contact with her primary care doc, her deminita doc and have phoned the pharmacy but after reading all of these messages, will be going to the pharmacy in person as well as be in contact with not only the FDA and the mfg but whom ever else I need to because I will not let some company take away days and months that are already limited to have her here!!! Thank you and I hope you're well.

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29

My mother has been on the same pill and has had no problems, her pharmacy did the same thing and switched up her regular white and light green to the dark blue ones. She also has Dementia, with that said, now she is even more depressed, has had loose stools, and is now worse then ever! She had been on a slow decline until this!! She is now aggressive, angery and cry's all the time, she also.has started to shake and her confusion is so bad she forgot how to use the restroom and has stopped eating!!! I had noticed a few odd things within the first week and then it was as if overnight, things have gone haywire! I know this disease is progressive, but it was like overnight I seen this change!!!

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28

Dear Reporter,

Sorry to hear about your problem. You can report side effects related to Alembic product on this link: alembicusa.com/contact (or go to alembicusa.com, navigate to Contact US and then navigate to Report Side Effects).

Thanks

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27

I'm sorry all of you went through this. It is a couple years later and I too am going through it. Just had a brand switch to Alembic. I couldn't figure out what I was eating that was causing such bad indigestion. The first night I had it, I was up all night with burning stomach & esophagus & my throat felt like something was stuck in it. It kept happening every night, so I paid attention to when it would start & figured out it was right after taking bedtime meds. It was the only different one, so I Googled it, & sure enough I found this. Tomorrow can't come soon enough. LOL I'm calling pharmacy, doctor & insurance company & also finding everywhere I can report this dangerous drug. I can't believe they know how bad it is and haven't pulled it!!! Lobbyists in the pockets of politicians!! BS!!!

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26

I’m the one who originally posted this. I’ve been receiving emails from the platform asking me to provide an update. I didn’t try the medication again, but instead just went without until my anxiety became too much. I let my doc know what was going on, & he prescribed Lexapro in the lowest dose (I believe it was 5 mg starting out) in hopes of no side effects & progressively increasing my dose. I’m currently up to 10 mg & feel like I need to increase the dosage even more, which I’m going to discuss with my doc next week at my scheduled appt. I was nervous about Lexapro because I’ve heard various things about side effects, but I’ve been taking it for 4 months now & haven’t had any side effects aside from night sweats which are tolerable. I also have insomnia (trouble falling asleep). No loss of libido like the Prozac caused, but at the same time, it may come about with increased dosing.

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25

Re: Brenda (# 24) Expand Referenced Message

EDIT to my post... I was taking 40mg Sandoz or Par and now taking 20mg in TEVA because have been told Sandoz nor Par sell Fluoxetine in 20 mg. I "wrote" 10 mg in my post... was an error on my part. Revision.

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24

Re: Taylor (# 11) Expand Referenced Message

I also was on Sandoz when I was taking 40 mg. NOW that I have cut back to 20 mg dosage, I am being told by CVS that neither Sandoz or Par sell it in 10 mg tablets, so am taking Teva 10 mg. Have only taken it for 30 days, but seem to be doing ok. Still wish I had Sandoz brand! The ONLY pharmacy I have even found that will "order" a different "brand" than the one they carry in their store is CVS, but the one I go to has the WORST customer service EVER! But at least they order me the brand I request. Just always check it before you pay for it to see what "brand" it is, because many times it has been incorrect at CVS. Once you pay for it and leave, you can't take it back.

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23

I have been on the Mylan Tablets for a couple weeks now and feel like I am on nothing at all......tons of anxiety, feeling very very off and not myself, crying fits..... I just want my sandoz back!!! Alembic made me sick, Mylan tablets not working, going to try the Teva/Pliva one now

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22

Re: MomOf2 (# 10) Expand Referenced Message

Hi,
I’m curious if the tablets made a difference for you. Pam

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21

Just got switched to these blue poison pills.... I have been using sandoz for 17 years and was informed they stopped manufacturing it. I’m a big space cadet right now, my stomach actually HURTS!! Not nausea, but hurts, painfully .... I have had diarrhea also, and major sleep issues. I am sure it’s the dye in the pills as I usually have issues with food dye anyways. I called pharmacy and had them switch me to the Mylan Tablets that are white..... we’ll see how those help. They had to call the DR to get me switched.

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