Is Mylan Lorazepam Discontinued? (Page 6)

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.

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Re: Marcus (# 99)

I've been on it for some time as well. Hate. Beating a dead horse but I'm just not happy about Mylans decision to discontinue. The reason why doctors like using Klonopin it's because it's longer a lasting. For some of us it doesn't work at all and like you said make you depressed. My situation with Klonopin was even worse.

I understand how you feel about not wanting anybody touch your medication. You're not the only one that has these feelings. I won't even let my spouse touch my meds. So I so feel you on that one.

But as I said you are obviously in withdrawals from Mylan. I hope that it'll subside for you soon. For me Klonopin is in an option. If it was I'd be on it.

Hang in there things will get better.

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Re: Richard (# 100)

Have you ever had any of your doctors or pharmacist tell you that you're on too high of a daily dose? I'm on the same amount and I'm constantly shamed by my pdoc. She has no understanding of the benefit that some of us get from using a benzodiazepine. I know what the PDR says is therapeutic and how high one can be on daily.

I'd gladly take the other meds I spoke about below if they actually worked. I believe I've also talked about having a ring finger the twitches from serotonin syndrome after being on Zoloft. That was over 12 years ago and I still have it.

One doctor that was on call while my doctor was out on vacation put down in my file I have a personality disorder benzodiazepines and dependence. This doctor never saw me once b4 or knew my case. Now it there permanently.

I've tried to change my pdoc countless times but since I'm dealing with the military they won't switch me and she's not going anywhere soon. The doctor I had before her treated me like I was one of his own. Just wondered if any of you guys have ever been shamed as I'm speaking about. It's very debilitating and the older I get the worse it is. I'm pretty much homebound from PTSD, panic disorder and major depression. I do have a bit of OCD but it's not as predominant as i used to be.

Fill me in gang when you have a moment. I appreciate the feedback and support I get from this. I hope you all are getting the same thing. This too shall pass.

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Re: Jibs55 (# 102)

No...no one has ever told me i'm on too high a dosage of lorazepam......in fact one doc told me he has several taking 10mg a day or more........lorazepam is effective ONLY when the individual feels normal...not 'high' but NORMAL. I never felt high nor lthargic...i've been on the same does of lorazepam 2mg 3 x day since 1982...i never needed more.....that was myshrinks equivalent to the 10mg 4x day of valium i was taking...but he had 'heard' that lorazepam was non-addictive...showed me a pamphlet stating such...so much for trusting Big Pharma.......i don't believe the newer docs are actually concerned about the quantity but being politically correct because this month/year benzos are the 'evil' drug....simply because its gotten publicity by celebrities taking overdoses or mixing with other drugs...NOT because they had anxietydisorder. Without benzos i couldnt leave the house (or just being there was hell)...with benzos i could attend college, met my wife, had a job and now am 71 and married 49 years......ifcardiac patients are addicted toheart medication or diabetic require metaformin..i dont seethe harm giving people withanxiety benzos...all are addictive whether for anxiety, heart or glucose....

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Let me add to the previous answer......would i recommend NOW that someone o on benzos? Not without trying meditation,exercise, self talk and progressive relaxation...THOSE are what truly helped e...but when you are having multiple panic attacks a day...its REALLY hard to convince someone they are not harmful and are actually beneficial to the mind/body to relieve stress....losing the fear of them is tantamount. If you cannot do it on your own..meds are helpful not not essential......i wish i'd knownthis 50+ years ago...hell.....i wish he doctors knew tis 50+ years ago.......but anyone who has been taking a significant amount of benzodiazopines for over a year shouldn't be subjected to removing them....i know of seeral cases where the patient was taking 2mg per DAY and tried to wean themselves off with a docs help....it worked for 6 months then the rebound comes...its not pleasant.

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Re: Richard (# 104)

I can tell you Richard they knew what they had and knew how addictive they were and still are today. Not sure if you saw my post about Milltown which was one of the favorites prescribed by doctors in the 60's. Mainly to women going through the change life. I had a close female relative that was put on it and it bout drove her into the ground.

As bad as my panic problems are meditation, cognitive behavior therapy or holistic approaches didn't work for me. I'm pretty much fine until a major stressor happens in my life. I'm at the age that isn't much different than you.

My pdoc keeps telling me dropping me down is for my benefit. How she does it is not with any compassion at all. Keeps telling me we have this agreement. There's been nothing I've agreed with with verbal or in writing. The more stress she puts me through the less of the quality of life I have. I have developed others medical issues because of this.

And you're right about how high profile actors or Sports figures have made this rough on many of us. Every time I go in for a checkup I get told did you hear about such and such just past from being on benzo's. The visit is never how have you been.

Just wished there was a medication that wasn't addictive and it worked. I've been reading I'm ketamine I think it's spelled on how its helping many with panic/depression. One of my specialist has used it when he puts you under and my word when you wake up there's no depression at all for hours. Just unreal. But there's always the long-term effects that they might have pop up after usage. Right now they've found using it as a nasal mist. I'm really thinking we'll have some major breakthroughs soon.

Sorry for sounding kinda snarky here lately but lots going on amd some of thr post kinda strike up feelings if you understand what I'm saying. Glad to hear your doc is cool with yiur usage. As I said my initial docs were until this one. Peace

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Re: Jibs55 (# 105)

I'd love to hear of ANYONE...celebrities or otherwise that ever passed from taking a prescribed amount of JUST benzos.....shame on your doctor!

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I had been having problems with the brand name—sometimes it melts entirely, sometimes there are black specks in the tablets. I've at times felt like I'm in complete withdrawal.

I thought it wouldn't hurt to call Mylan again and ask if they had any plans to re-introduce the product, and the customer service representative said she got lots of calls just like mine specifically for Ativan. She was very sympathetic.

She said the best thing to do is to e-mail them at:

[email protected]

and to include that the medication was a good product, had worked well for you, and your contact information, and she said it would go to management who reviews such requests to bring back products.

It's worth a try.

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Re: Marcus (# 107)

I will do it as well Marcus. Thanks for the post.

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So i've been having problems getting the brand name Ativan since last month as CVS tells me it's been on backorder. Last month they sent me to another store that had stock on hand and now just received a call from my normal store that it's still on backorder and they can't get it. This crap is too reminiscent of Mylan last year when they discontinued. CVS insists Valeant hasn't discontinued but that's what they told us about Mylan for many months. Anyone else taking brand having supply issues yet?

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Re: Henry (# 109)

My CVS was having trouble, but they can get it now. Or at least got one bottle for my last fill. I talked to Bausch (new name for Valeant) and they said there was a temporary backorder issue for just the 1 mg bottles.

Interestingly every single bottle of Ativan by Valeant/Bausch I've gotten has had the exact same lot number. With my other meds it changes from month to month. And I've been getting it for a long time now. I don't know if that is because they make so little of it because there's very little demand for such an expensive drug. I would assume they would continue making it as it seems like they'd make a lot of profit of what they do sell, but who knows.

According to my pharmacy, when it was on backorder they delivered it to each pharmacy based on historical ordering patterns. So one that had ordered it before was more likely to get it first when new stock was available.

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I’ve been taking Lorazepam 0.5 MG for years. The brand I’m currently using is called
ACTAVIS. I may have been on the MYLAN
brand at some point. However I have not had any problems with the ACTAVIS brand. I hope this helps. I hope this is helpful.

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Re: Henry (# 109)

Now my CVS is on backorder again for brand name. They got it for me last month but now that it's time to refill they can't get it again.

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Re: Mitzi (# 111)

I take lorazepam made by Actavis...it's no better or worse than Leading.......though my Actavis says "Watson", it's not...Teva bought out Watson years ago....they are still using the molds......before 2012, you couldn't beat Watson's lorazepam...it was identical to the brand name (before the brand name was sold to another company...I took Wyeth Ativan for decades (2 mg x 3 day)...(never required more)...apparently the FDA doesn't give a s*** about generics.....and the 'newer' psychiatrists avoid prescribing it due to fear of addiction lawsuit, not effectiveness.....not many meds with curtail a panic attack like lorazepam ...we'll..the OLD lorazepam....as far as I know all the current generic is made in India.....and so they don't lose out in the profit margin they are permitted a larger leeway in the % of the active ingredient (thank you George W.)......last couple of year I found it nowhere near as effective (my tolerance would have been reached decades ago so says my doc)...and then other patients started complaining too....so added to my repertoire is a mg of klonopin at night.......if you have been on lorazepam since before 2012 and think it's not effective any more.....and your doc thinks it's all in your head...tell him/her to catch up on his journal reading.

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Re: Henry (# 109)

I've been getting mine direct from the Bausch patient assistance program. Two months ago they ran out of 1mg. I had to switch to a different strength.

I called corporate 3 times and was told the only shortage is on 1mg. The pharmacy that Bausch uses to mail their meds out says they're out of all strengths. You really don't know who to believe.

If they knew this was coming they could have let their patients and myself know ahead of time and not put us in a tailspin.

As someone else mentioned this is starting to look like what we dealt with last year with Mylan.

Now I'm stuck with having to have my doc write another script for whatever generic is available through my military base.

All I know is I'm waiting for a call from corporate. But I'm not holding my breath on that happening.

The compassion level at the patient assistance program is very hard to cope with. Each month there's a new set of rules or more drama.

My only suggestion to all of you is to call Bausch's corporate number and tell them how bad it is for us out here.

I seriously feel all your pain. If any one else gets brand name from Bausch patient assistance program could you let me know if you're having the same problem. It would be deeply appreciate it.

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Re: Jibs55 (# 114)

My insurance switched so that I could no longer get brand name.

I was terrified of making a switch as I've had problems with certain generics before. They had the Aurobindo in stock and it has worked the same if not better than the brand name.

Good to know about the patient assistance program if I ever needed to go back on brand. I believe I called them about that once and they said it didn't apply to Ativan. The costs are so unbelievable at around $3,000 a month I think. How much do they cover? I was wondering who was paying for it. I'm surprised my last insurance plan covered it. The new one does not which I can understand. It's a lot of money.

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Re: Marcus (# 115)

My understanding is Ativan isn't one of their covered meds. I got it before they dropped it off their pap so they grandfathered me in. But you can't make over a certain amount of money.

It I were you and needed to go back on brand I'd asked them if they'd make exception for you.

Considering they know most of the generics don't work they may have some compassion. It's always option.

Question for you where are you finding aurobindo at. I've wanted to try that one very much so. Fill me in when you have a chance. Thanks!

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Re: Marcus (# 115)

Forgot to answered your question on the cost from Bausch. It's totally free if you meet their income requirements.

Again please fill me in on where you've got the Aurobindo. Everything I've read about it seems like it works really well.

I'll do some more research here in my area see if I can't find it. Anything you could tell me would be greatly appreciated.

My biggest problem is still being browbeated by my pdoc on the usage. As I'm sure you read my post in Aug it's not pretty.

The sad thing is I think there's a wave coming discontinuing benzos all together.

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Re: Jibs55 (# 117)

I spoke with my psychiatrist about this 'discontinuation of benzodiazopines'. He said it might affect new time users if alternate means don't work for anxiety...but nothing can beat the speed at which a benzodiazepine can stop a panic attack. As for those who have been on them for years, he said that is utterly not true.....besides the docs having lawsuits to deal with, rehab centers would be overflowing with an issue that is just not solvable...many have tried to get off benzodiazepines with a success rate of less than 2%, depending on their dosage and how long they had been taking it.

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Re: Richard (# 118)

I can tell you that your doctor seems very knowledgeable and compassionate. I never considered that those avenues would be in the cards. My pdoc is about to retire so I'm in hopes I'll be given one like I've had in the past.

I may just cut and paste what you wrote when I see her next time. The part about the success rate only being about 2%. I know that for a fact I've tried myself with no success.

Monday I'm going to start calling pharmacies to see if I can find the Aurobindo. Marcus isn't the only one that has said there's a good success rate with it. Have a good feeling about it so it's worth digging into.

As for now I'm back on Watson. I may have mentioned if I don't take my nexium twice a day Watson gives me terrible GERD.

Appreciate the feedback Richard! Hope you're well.

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Re: Jibs55 (# 119)

Actually your "Watson" is Actavis. Watson (which i considered to be the best generic ativan though i am sure there will be those that differ)...was bought out by Teva around 2012-13. I'm sure there were a couple years of stockpiled Watson to go through in warehouses and pharmacies but i noticed a difference around 2017. A friend who is a pharmacist told me the "Watson" you see on the India-made pill bears the name "Watson" simply because when Watson was purchased, they bought the molds too. The formula...um..is a tad different...whether its the fillers or less active ingredient...i've noticed the embossed "warson" is not as clear and the color of the tablet is different. Keeping in mind the rather important placebo factor...many have not noticed any change and that is good. But a few long time users have. During the 2nd Bush administration, FDA standards placed on foreign made meds became more flexible to make them more competitive....unfortunately pushing the better made local meds that are held to stricter standards (supposedly checked by the FDA) lost profit and relinquished making generics to foreign manufacturers...thus leaving us with meds that do not perform as the older generics. If you have a knowledgeable friend who is a pharmacist...who will talk freely.....(meaning get past the BS they were instructed to tell the public)..they will confirm this.......Leading Pharma, Major Pharma, Actavis and perhaps others...are all now made in India.

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