Sandoz Ativan (Page 4) (Top voted first)

I switched pharmacies and was given Sandoz Ativan, I have been having a terrible time- it is like it is creating more anxiety. I switched back to my old pharmacy and am counting the days until I get back to the Milan manufacturer. It has been a horrid 2 weeks. Melatonin helps a great deal with sleep. I started off with Milan and had been on that for 2 years with no problems, I wonder if your body resists another generic brand and you have to adjust. All I know if Milan is what I need and I always get the same manufacturers for all my meds since 12 years ago from CVS- they are very consistent. Be very careful if you switch pharmacies, I learned that all generics are NOT THE SAME.

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Hi Stephanie, the most recent lorazepam I was using prior to getting the sz198 was imprinted ((59 and the bottle said Sandoz. I do recall before that , it was imprinted R and a number maybe 59 also not sure. It is awful how they are always changing the brands and we are at their mercy. I've never ordered on the internet. My insurance won't pay for original Ativan since I've been taking the generic. Pharmaceuticals are really playing money games at the expense of quality drugs for the consumers :( Let me now if you try the sz198 Good luck :)

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Hi ALL!

Got my Sandoz SZ/198 today. Took it after 9pm, and it does work. One thing though, the taste is pretty bad. I have trouble swallowing and this one took the cake! It makes you groggy faster then the other ((59. I really think the formula has changed besides the logo. I'll let you all know how it works in the morning, whether I'll be groggy or feeling good with no side effects. Walgreen sells it, without insurance it cost (90 day supply) $94.00, with insurance (depending on what you have) $2.55.

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Well, its the 2nd day I have been taking the "new SZ198's." They are nothing to brag about. The formula has been changed. I feel like am in the twilight zone in about 1 hour. Like I took Valium or something. Groggy like. They do knock you out and you will sleep like baby in no time at all. I would not recommend taking this if you have a panic attack while driving! The old version ((59, I could slip in my mouth with no taste whatsoever. But these, you have to swallow whole or crush them. Crushing them and put it in apple sauce, no drink! Leaves a really bad taste in your mouth if you suck on it with drink. DON'T DO THAT! Take and swallow. It just takes about 1 hour for it to kick in and believe me, you will feel it!
So this is how I would rate this formula from Sandoz SZ198. 1 Being horrible thru 5, - somewhat okay, thru 10, excellent. I give it a 3. That's just me. Perhaps others can tolerate more. So am taking it because there isn't anything else there that will work for me.

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thanks for the info H/A, sandoz had no choice but to change the formula, that farce that they tried to pass onto the public came back to bite them, if they thought that the public would actually continue to buy that stuff, they were fools, people will buy something that works and nothing else, as a former activus patient it was insulting to see sandoz change the formuls and then have the nerve to tell the public that it was the same product, you don't need a lab to know that changes were made and to tell people that its the same product really shows you how little respect this company has for the product, i will ask my doctor for maybe a 10 day supply to see if this is close to what i had when i was taking the activus. anyone else starting with the new sandoz, it would be appreciated if we got more feed back on how this sandoz product is affecting you, i will write as soon as i get my meds.
thanks again

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Okay, have been doing research and found out that Sandoz has same formula of old R59/((59 lorazepam. But, it has added a coating to the tablet. The original R59 and then the ((59 did not have any coating on it. The Sandoz brand SZ198 does. It leaves you with a bad taste on your tongue, kinda numbs it for a few days. My mistake, could not swallow it whole, somehow took awhile to melt after trying several times to swallow in my mouth. Left my tongue numb with loss of taste buds. As for the formula it does work, but in less then 2 hours, I do feel sleepy but with a headache. I think they added coating to the pill to help it go down more smoothly. ??? Never had problems with it before it became Sandoz! Nothing ever stays the same, the old versions worked so beautifully for us who used PurPac/ElizabethNJ/Activus R59 and ((59. No coating on them for years!

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They have always had a bitter taste if they sit in your mouth too long... Maybe drink as soon as possible or something like juice that has a taste.... They have the same effect on me... Sorry your having trouble.

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went to walgreens and asked if they still are selling the sandoz 59, they said they had something else, got home and looked and it had 197 on the back side, anyone have any idea what this might be, i noticed people using 198 on the back of sandoz but not 197

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I have been using ativan the name brand for a number of years to control a chronic anxiety problem as well as prevents panic attacks. All was fine all this time until my employer changed to a different insurance company. Prior I was paying about $70 for a months supply. I was getting the original from Wyeth which was a five sided white pill. A year and a half ago I had to change to the generic or pay over $500. I went to CVS for my generic and it was horrible. Made by Qualitest. made me feel very jittery. The next day I discussed with my doctor and he gave me a new prescription which I took to Rite Aid. That was made by Ranbaxy. it worked very well for me though not quite as well as the name brand. Now I find that Ranbaxy was not available from Rite Aid. I went to my local pharmacy and they got me Ranbaxy but could not get a refill as it is being taken off the market. I tried Watson from them and had very bad anxiety. Now I just received Sandoz for a 2 day trial. it makes me a bit tired and I feel a little anxious at first.I want to go back to the brand but it is so crazy expensive! Has anyone used the brand lately? I'm a bit worried from what I've read that the five sided pill which I used to get until short time ago may not be what I would get today. Does anyone have any experience using the name brand and how would you describe how it looks? It was a nearly perfect solution for me. Hardly ever tired no side effects I felt very even and the quality of my life has not been the same since.

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Sandoz and Watson have the same ingredients...never down to the inactive ingredients. People with anxiety a very creative, which is a good thing at time... But there are times I scare myself ...I don't trust changes... But once I realized how I was scaring myself with different companys or pill stamps. Once I found out the ingredients of these product and stop fearing everything... The fear went away and I don't fill any diffrence between pills. Most people don't even care about the changes... But those of us with negative thinking freak ourselves out.... Be kind to yourself.

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Denise,
been on activus for 15 years almost, once sandoz bought the rights to the activus lorazepam the product changed, the first few sandoz i took, kept me up all night, i had no idea that i was taking anything but activus, i later read that the activus product was sold to sandoz, you can't have that much of a change and say the product has the same ingrediants, looking at this forum, its plain to see that the sandoz product is not identical to the original, something has changed, activus was still making the product for sandoz last i heard, but you don't need a lab to tell you that the product you have been taking for years has changed

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Atavis bought Purpac and the stamp remained the same... Same product .... The Atavis and Watson merged and stamp changed still same ingredients ... The they were order to give op right to some of their generic, Adivan was one... Sandoz was given all their moon 59 and 57 and so on.... Now Sandox is making their own new label ...all this time the active ingredence is on the internet along with all the company changes and why... I too have been using Adivan for years... I feel nothing has changed.... Maybe the reason you couldn't sleep is your body has people so used to the med or being concerned that it was different. I feel for you if your med isn't working for you...Anxiety and no sleep is a hard thing maybe you should talk to your Doctor and you can try something new. Hoping you find the answer. D

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All of us have different bodies. Its just terrible that these pharmaceutical companies like to switch their meds. Sandoz Lorazepam SZ/198 is now made in India. I guess they agreed to put a coating on it. I checked around and there are no MORE ((59's on anyone's shelf's (Walgreen/Rite Aide/CVS and the likes, except Walmart, they carry their own brand. I guess am very sensitive to any new medication and Sandoz brand SZ/198 is new to me. Even if the medication sits in my mouth for 3 seconds before I swallow, my taste buds go numb. Go figure! Even my doctor and I discussed this and he agrees that I am super sensitive to medications and other things like perfumes, cigarette smoke, sprays, and I dare not walk down the aisle with the soaps in the stores, I'll pass out. My doctor said, he has over a period of time with me given me prescriptions for various other substance - Lorazepam and none worked as well as the R59 Purpac. He said many other patients (those who took this) loved it. Now they are up the creek like many of us who used Purpac brand. I guess it will be an adjustment for all of us who now have SZ/198. I don't know of Sandoz SZ/197? Never heard of that one till I read it in here. Call a pharmacist and ask if they known the difference. Here's witty saying from long ago about Change! "For those who are for a CHANGE, do not intermeddle, (why) For their disaster will arise so suddenly, that who is aware of the extinction of those who are for a CHANGE!" Sometimes Change is good, but in these cases its bad for some of us!

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hi Joe I found out that the Sandoz lorazepam is labeled : sz 197 for .5 mg, the sz198 for 1 mg, and the sz 199 for 2 mg. Hope this helps.

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thanks Mary

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I understand i used Lorazepam from Excellium since June 2013 and one time my dad bring me Watson Lorazepam and make me feel very very bad. I stop using it and i found a local pharmacy and they had the Excellium for me. I took .25 mg(three times a day) i know how a person feel when they switch from manufacturer to manufacturer.

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My pharm finally ran out of the (( 59 and I got the new SZ 198 today. I don't think there is any big change. It's ok, if anything I'd say it might be a bit stronger. IF Sandoz made a change do you really think they would tell anyone who calls them? I didn't even notice there was a coating on it and didn't notice any bitter taste. A coating is a good way to stabilize & preserve the main ingrediants so that's a good thing. High Anx; if you crush the pill you will get an initial buzz but not the full benefits of the pills. If you try to scrape off the coating you will do the same. Just place it in the back of your throat, have your glass of water ready and swallow! Denise is right. People with anxiety tend to imagine a lot and think the worst. Yes, the Brand version is the best but for I have decided not to pay more as long as I get relief from the Sandoz. I will let you know how I feel about the 198's after a few days.

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Thanks Stephanie, when I took the new SZ198, it numbed my tongue! I never had this effect when I took the R59 and then the ((59. I have a few left of the ((59, and they are bigger in size then the new SZ198's. I must say that when I took the SZ198's, they worked a lot faster then the old brand. They are like you say, stronger. in a way am glad, so when I do have a major panic attack in traffic, I'll pull over take 1/2 of one, and pray that I get home before I snooze on the highway or any road. I carry a few in my car because when I get these panic attacks. I don't know what could trigger those attacks, but maybe its because when I went to work, I saw all these accidents, and had someone come down a turn into the hwy, jumped 2 lanes, and bounced in front of my car, hit the guard rail and bounced back into my lane (I had pulled back a lot) and then had the person in their vehicle surrounded and had them pull over till the police got there. Maybe yeah, I think things like this really got to me! Seeing people drive faster then the speed limit, and about 10 miles ahead, police sirens, ambulances and a dead bodies on the ground as you drive by at 3 miles an hour because the highway has been backed up for miles. Yeah, I guess after seeing things like these, yeah, you can start to have panic attacks. I've had mine since 1995 and they seem to get worse when am in traffic. I feel like there's no escape. So recently, I no longer drive during our rush hour 4 to 6pm and mornings 7am to 9am. That has really helped out! Strange how the body reacts to incidents that happen in one's life.

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High Anx; I'm sorry you have to deal with panic. I have had it all my life & went untreated for a very long time. I don't like having to take a pill everyday but for now that's the way it is. I also avoid peak rush times, who needs that?! Still don't notice any bitter taste. I think the SZ 198 is about the same as previous version, if anything they seem to kick in faster as you said. I know now that generics are not the best quality but Brand drugs are priced insanely high and something needs to be done about that. Also, we have to do our part because meds alone won't cut it. Prayer, meditation, keep active, etc etc. Take care, I'll check back later.

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High Anxiety...I have had the same reaction to the new Sandoz lorazepam that you have had. I had my first dose tonight...half of a 0.5 mg. It left an aftertaste and a numb feeling in my throat and no matter how much water I drank I couldn't get it to go down. I guess it disolved in my throat. I never had this problem with the old 57 Sandoz. I can't take Watson or Mylan. I am too sensitive to all medications and have to go through so much to get something that works and then they change the formula. Just tired of dealing with all the brand switching. I can't pay $700 for name brand! Can you update on how you are doing?

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Same problem here swallowing and getting stuck in the throat, throat going numb with that coating on the tablet. So right before I take it, I put it under the faucet for about 5 seconds to get the coating off and then I take it, have no problem after that. Just takes a little longer for it to take effect. And too, I was told by the pharmacist that even the SZ198, may not be around in a couple of months. So I have been trying this new thing called Calms Forte. The first round 1 tablet and 1/2 of the sz198, it really relaxed me, but sleeping, well that took about 3 hours. So I took another 1mg tablet of the Calm Forte, and that did it. I slept till 9am. It did give me a headache the night before, but eventually, I want to wean my self off the Lorazepam/SZ 198. Drugs companies are (some) going out of business. When drug companies are in foreign lands, and there's a rebellion and new government take over, these companies usually go out of business or they move and then it takes more time to get the products out. its a no win situation. But that's how I take the new SZ198's, I have to run under the water for a few seconds to get the coating off. And they said that the coating helps you swallow. I guess for some people it does work, but not me and by the looks of it, not you either!

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