Is Mylan Lorazepam Discontinued? (Page 5) (Top voted first)

My pharmacy told me that they can't buy mylan any more and they do not know if it is discontinued or not.

Since Qualitest lorazepam was discontinued, Mylan is the only lorazepam that works (less effective than Qualitest) but works with less side effects than others (Watson, leading pharma, actavis: don't work causing serious side effects).

Any alternatives, or another generic lorazepam that works ok? Lorazepam is the only sedative that works for me for anxiety and stiffness due to side effects of levothyroxine. Other medicine such as clonazepam, alprazolam (xanax), cymbalta, zoloft, lexapro, etc do not work.

REPLY

REPORT

Re: Richard (# 124)

When I spoke to them last year I was told the lorazepam was to be produced by the Aurolife Pharma, LLC umbrella, a 100% owned subsidiary of Aurobindo Pharma USA Inc. "Aurolife's goal is to become the leading US based generic pharmaceutical product manufacturer in the specialty and niche areas drug." They are based in NJ.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Marcus (# 134)

Sorry to hear that about Aurobindo. That was something I considered trying because the jerks at Bausch now let all strengths of Ativan go out of stock in warehouses. When I called them in August they lied to me and said short term (2-3 month) backorder. When I called Walgreens last week they told me their wholesalers were listing all strengths of Ativan as “long term backorder”. I’ve been getting by getting sent around to the different pharmacies and filling with remaining stock on hand. There is now none left in any strength. I have enough to get me to my doctors appt early next month. If Bausch still hasn’t made Ativan available I will have my doctor switch me to generic Xanax (that drugs generics actually work, especially Greenstone) at least for the short term. Xanax doesn’t work as well for me in how I need a longer lasting anxiety reliever, but it’ll be effective enough and prevent acute withdrawal. Good luck to everyone, the BS never ends with these drug companies!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Henry (# 135)

My response could be idiosyncratic. It's always hard to know what is causing what. I am on multiple medications. It's just one data point. Obviously Mylan worked well based on the many data points here. I've never been on Xanax. I don't think my doctor would be willing to switch me.

Bausch must really have production problems. You think they'd be highly motivated to get the product to market when they sell it for thousands of dollars per bottle.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Blueray (# 143)

So far for me it had been the brand name, which wasn't as good but still OK.

Aurobindo seems to be variable quality, as in some pills seem to have potency and some don't and seemed to cause withdrawal in me (though I will say the first month on it I did not feel that).

I am going to try the Teva/Actavis next (the ones that have the Watson imprint on them but aren't actually Watson).

I might try to get my provider to try to convince my insurance to cover brand again if that doesn't work, but my insurance understandably doesn't want to pay thousands for the brand name. I'm pretty sure they're going to deny it because of the plan I'm on now. It used to be covered.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Marcus (# 144)

I had to transition from Mylan to Aurobindo for the 0.5mg tablet back in June. I take 0.25 mg three times during the day using the 0.5mg tablets. That transition was fine.

The problem is with the 1mg nighttime dose.
When I tried the Aurobindo once I felt like I took nothing and was in severe withdrawal at 4am. I’ve never felt that bad before. When I went back to Mylan 1mg I was fine.

Should I try a slightly higher dose of Aurobindo at bedtime? Maybe 1.25mg instead of 1? I am really nervous about this.

Mylan has worked so well for me for 6 years.

Any advice is appreciated.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Blueray (# 143)

Brand name Ativan if you can find it. Their patient assistance program says they can't get it. The pharmacy the program uses says they're only allow so much a year. I'm not quite sure how that make sense. So they just put their patients in a tailspin out the clear blue sky. That's where I've been. Been stuck on Watson for 3 months in withdrawals and the quality of my life is going downhill. Wished there was something else I could take but I've been on it all.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Blueray (# 145)

Were you able to get Mylan still? Reason why I've asked is Mylan has been out since last year. Did someone in your area stockpile it? You said you transitioned from it in June. (Mylan)

Also not sure what you're saying about taking 0.25. Are you saying you split the 0.5mgs to get the 0.25? Forgive me if my math is off.

Also not sure how you guys were getting Aurobindo. My understanding was it just hit the market I believe within the last 6 months. I could be off.

But your best bet is if you have private insurance that will pay for brand-name Ativan I'd go that route.

I still feel that we're all feeling drug withdrawals switching from one brand to another.

But again I'd go with the brand name if you have a good insurance policy that will cover it.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Marcus (# 146)

Trust me Marcus when I say this. If you've never gone cold turkey or through a detox what we're experiencing now isn't even close. I've done both. It's a hell that nobody should be subjected to.

I went a day and a half without anything and it was bad. That was in a psych ward. The environment I was in was unreal. That was one experience.

In the 80's I went into a detox center with the hopes that I could manage without being on anything to control my mental health issues. That was thee biggest mistake I've ever made hands down.

They knew why I was coming in and was treated as a criminal drug addict. I had only been on Xanax for like 3-4 months. Was told coming off Xanax would be like coming off Heroin.

I wasn't told to go in, this was my idea. I didn't want to be dependent on medication. They treated me like I said as a regular drug addict. And most places you go these days will think you're in denial. I was just a young man at that time and was a first-time user of Xanax. As in the first time ever on a benzodiazepine.

The saying, sometimes you're a bug, sometimes you're the windshield. Ugh!

This too shall pass...

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

One thing I'm not sure any of you are aware of. But there is a device called Alpha stim. Is similar to a tens device. I've had some breakthrough days using it for panic disorder, depression and PTSD.

I don't think you can post links out here so I won't. Just Google Alpha-stim they have a lot of info on their website. It's a very expensive device but your insurance may cover it. I believe you have to have a prescription for.

Just something I wanted to throw out there at you guys to see if it might be beneficial for you. :)

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Jibbs55 (# 151)

I have no idea if Leading has been reformulated.......it seemed fine to me until after a few months it just seemed not as strong....i think the old REAL Watson must have still been in my system.......the "Watson" you get today is made and distributed by Actavis which is own by Tavas when they bought out Watson. The real Watson has not been made in about 7 years......when Watson was bought lock, stock, and molds (thats why they still say Watson) by Teva.....but the med itself is not as strong (for me) as the old Watson which i found pretty much the same as the old brand Ativan....which also is now made in India and people have been saying it too is no longer the same....

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I have a question for the Medschat staff. By any chance do you ever weigh in on what some of us speak about. As in do you guys have information that backs up many of these generics don't work. I suppose there's legalities that might keep you all from not giving that kind of info. But it would be a blessings to know what we post isn't all in our heads.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I don't know if I'm in withdrawals or it's too strong. This Leading brand is unreal. I'm beginning to believe they're trying to bump us off. Whole body is tensed up with muscle spasms. SpO2:is ok but heart rate is slower. My word how do they get away with this stuff.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: JC (# 161)

She is sending to a lab to get tested. Hopefully they will be able to.detect I been taking my medication on a regular basis. Thank you for responding

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: JC (# 170)

In answer to the FDA and staff, i haven't a clue how they regulate. As for what i take currently.....its Actavis 2mg 3x day.......when first switched from Leading i though it was even worse than Leading.......but either my body adapted somewhat or my brain did......now they seem 'slightly less' than the old Watson....but there is a third factor in play....when i presented the 'generics' problem to my dr., he pretty much ignored it saying it was my anxiety......but i've been at this benzo thing for over 50 years and know myself pretty well......next visit HE brought up the topic....seems every single patient of his taking generic lorazepam were complaining about their meds being less effective....worst part for me was getting to sleep and staying asleep.....so he gave me 1mg of klonopin (the generic form) to take going to bed and that seemed to balance out the now lighter generic lorazepam......didn't want to take more meds...some nights i skip it...it doesn't wash out fast like lorazepam...much longer acting but i have noticed some short term memory issues i didn't have before taking it.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Jibbs55 (# 175)

For what its worth, i've spoken to a lawyer about docs taking patients off addictive medications they've been taking for decades....and under the 'do no harm' disclaimer, the docs would fail miserably...none of us asked to be put on this stuff......he says i've got a huge case if i'm ever taken off it against my will.....suits against the docs, the practice and the pharmaceutical houses.....benzodiazopines are still one of the most prescribed medications...someone is writing the scripts somewhere....and my therapist said it is absurd to worry about older patients having been on benzos all their lives ...its much more costly to take them off than keep them on it.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Leebs (# 180)

No, i haven't heard of any shortages...i take actavis also and am also in nj.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Marcus (# 188)

I've been having some difficulty since they switched the name brand over to the Canadian made manufacturing site. Not sure if you all get yours in a manufacturer's bottle like I do, but it's been made in Canada since my last fill. Before that it was made in Germany.

I've been having withdrawal symptoms and had to take extra medication for a while and increased my beta blocker. I had some of the German left and used up what I had left for two weeks, and during that time didn't need any extra and was on my normal dose of beta blocker.

Been back on the Canadian manufactured again and back to needing extra beta blocker and having to take an extra dose of the Ativan which doesn't even seem to help.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Marcus (# 189)

Oh sh@t! I take the brand (Bausch) but they don't dispense in mauf bottles. I haven't noticed a change yet but that could very well be because warehouses have a lot of stock (2mg tab). Thanks for the heads up, that REALLY sucks to hear. Bausch are such greedy aholes! They charge sooo much for the brand and now reported its no better than the 2¢ generics. I hate corporations.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Marcus (# 189)

Marcus is there any difference in the appearance of the German vs Canadian made? Different markings or maybe slightly different color? I hate surprises and my CVS pharmacy are such jerks to deal with I won't bother asking them. Thanks

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Re: Henry (# 191)

The tablets look identical.

Please don't take my word for it that it's worse, though. It may work just as well. People who know me think I am way too sensitive to these things and notice things other people wouldn't. So I could be wrong or it could be other factors going on in my life.

I agree about Bausch, though.

I did fine on Vintage and on Mylan. And they cost less per bottle than Bausch does per pill.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I was advised by Par Pharmaceutical that Qualitest lorazepam 1mg had been discontinued and no longer distributed. Is thi...

17 REPLIES

Desperate times again. What to do? Where to go? This is absurd. Now back where we were 2 years ago, no one else makes it...

20 REPLIES

Necon 1/50 no longer available,the manufacturer has discontinued. I am not pleased with this .I have been taking for ove...

19 REPLIES

RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT KETOPROFEN 200 MG EXTENDED RELIEF IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. IS THIS TRUE? ## what are the s...

15 REPLIES

Need pill to replace discontinued 15mg er opana ## Oxymorphone is the generic version of Opana and comes in 15mg ER. My ...

7 REPLIES

I take trika s.r 0.5mg with nitravit 5mg for sleeping problem for 10 months from last 10days i take only nitravit 5mg on...

6 REPLIES

About 5 years ago, I started taking a Centrum multivitamin which really worked for me. (Anxiety/Depression) I believe th...

2 REPLIES

Discontinued fenobibrate on Monday and started having a lot of diarrhea today (Thursday). Not sure if it's caused by...

1 REPLY

Is there anyone out there who is had a good or a bad experience with mine when I was told that my own was a very good ge...

1 REPLY

Hello, I am currently taking saboxone tabs. My insurance has stopped and I'm afraid to go through w/d from the sudde...

1 REPLY