Switching From Pristiq To Generic Desvenlafaxine (Page 4)

I was switched from Pristiq to generic Pristiq (Desvenlafaxine) which if I understand right, is really Effexor. Is there a possibility this could be causing my severe fatigue? Has this happened to anyone else out there?

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Re: Serenity (# 5)

How are you feeling on generic pristiq?

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I was switched to generic Pristiq around 6 months ago. I feel tired, depressed, and anxious again. I will talk to my doctor about the symptoms. They are having a toll on my everyday life.

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I was on generic Pristiq manufactured by Lupin for almost three months. Previously I had been able to wean myself down to 50 mg of Pristiq a day. With the generic, I was having meltdowns once a week when before I had not had one for several years. I increased my dosage to 100 mg a day of the generic and was still having horrible issues. I was crying and sad and hopeless all the time and wanted to kill myself. Following recommendations on this website, I asked my pharmacist at Kroger to order the generic by Greenstone (a company owned by Pfizer). It looks exactly like the regular Pristiq. I have been on that prescription for almost a month now and am feeling so much better—like I did when I was on Pristiq me by Pfizer. If you are experiencing the same issues with the generics I recommend that you go to Kroger or Ralph’s or any other pharmacies that are near you and ask them if they can order the Greenstone generic for you. My pharmacist made a note in my file and said that they would always order it for me automatically. It has made all the difference in the world and I only have to pay $5 a month for my prescription now. Good luck everyone. I hope this helps.

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Re: Deborah (# 62)

Please finish your report! It seems to have gotten cut off!

I was having problems before generic (you know how a medication can just seem to quit working after a good number of years. But I have been really been thrust into being very ill at first and now bouts of sudden crashes of intolerable intensity of depression. So much worse to as I feel desperately uncomfortable in my own skin, like feeling anxiety. Even increased pains and headaches.

So your sharing could help me.

You may reply to me but my illness from a severely disabling neuroimmune and inflammatory disease have been so unmanageable for 3 yrs has my email accounts all buried. It was random fortune that I happened to catch a notice of the email with updates to the thread I started about having problems with generic Pristiq. You should also check back as the reply before yours seemed to be described as very similar as my reaction. She found at least some resolution by switching to generic by Pfizer sp...

Take care. Thank you for sharing.

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You can call Greenstone directly at 1-855-222-8588 and they will give you locations of pharmacies that carry their medicine.

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Re: K2SO (# 18)

Hi ~ how did you find out that the Green Stone is the same as the Pristiq brand name?

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Re: K2SO (# 18)

I'd love to hear an update! I need to apply for Medicare Part D plus I see my psychiatrist tomorrow. Is the Green Stone generic working as well as the brand name Pristiq after 4 months?

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Re: LY33633 (# 67)

The GreenStone is brand name Pristiq. It's just repacked in a generic bottle but it is a brand name.

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Re: Lwilson (# 66)

Because Greenstone is Phizer's daughter company and have used their Effexor XR for years, it's brand name just like the Pristiq, it's their way of keeping income on an out of patent drug coming in.

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Re: Leen (# 59)

There's no reason to stay with Walgreens, go to a pharmacy that values you and your health and that will order Greenstone for you! Good luck

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Re: Debbie (# 55)

Debbie, my prices were the same as yours. First, I was going to get the generic for my daughter because I assumed the brand price would be very high. I phoned CVS to find out the price on the copay was going to be $60. I said to the pharmacy technician, that's a pretty high copay for a generic. She said yes, a lot of them are getting expensive. I asked, could you find out for me what the copay is for the name-brand because the doc said if the generic doesn't work then we will try the name-brand for my 23 yr old daughter who has been treatment resistant and has suffered since age 11 with depression/anxiety. This pharmacy technician looked it up (by the way, most of the time they say go ask your insurance company) but this pharmacy technician was great and took a few minutes to get the info and said "your copay for the brand is also $60 so you might as well get the brand, I'll switch it for you". I thought that was fantastic. Then she phoned me back 5 minutes later and told me there is a coupon so it only cost us $15! What a great pharmacy technician. Besides the cost savings, think of the horrible experience my daughter might have had with the generic! I did not know the generic was causing so many bad side effects until I found this forum today, otherwise I would have insisted the doc prescribe the brand. And if the coupon ever becomes unavailable for Pristiq, thanks to this forum, we know Greenstone generic is the best choice. I'm hoping Pristiq finally helps my daughter. She is starting it today. Please say a prayer for K.C. that it helps her so she can finally live a normal life.

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Yes three months on generic, I feel tired and can't focus.

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Just as everyone else, I was forced to switch from Pristiq a generic. I've given it a good 6 weeks and some. I find that I've gone back to crying and sobbing every night and a feeling of hopelessness is returning. Don't know what to do as Blue Cross is refusing too pay for the name brand. Not happy.

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Re: Cheryl (# 73)

Did you try using the coupon on the Pristiq website? You might get the brand name for $15 or less.

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Re: Cheryl (# 73)

Just request the Approved Generic made by GREENSTONE. Its actually Brand name Pristiq repacked as generic, it's 100% Brand Name in same bottles made at same laboratories in Shanghai. It's so much easier than trying to get the insurance company to pay for brand-name.

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Re: Jeremy (# 65)

They want all your information and then call pharmacies on your behalf to find who carries Greenstone. I was not comfortable giving them all my personal information. I will make a couple calls myself.

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John (# 73) --

I can't focus. I've been on the generic for a few months. I have gained weight, less active and still have fibromyalgia pain. I want to stop taking it, but that ticking in my head with dizziness scares me.

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Pristiq brand name works for me. However, I was switched to generic a month ago and my depression is back. My doctor put in a request order for me to stay on brand name. Waiting for the order to go through.... If anyone needs to be on brand name, ask your doctor to request this for you. Happier days ahead!

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Re: Kate (# 20)

I'm glad I found this forum! I am also one of many who were taken off Pristiq as Blue Cross will no longer pay for it. I thought it was my imagination that my depression was coming back after being on the generic for about 6 weeks. I also cry for no reason at least once a day. I'm feeling tired, not motivated, super sensitive and am starting to feel some hopelessness returning. I'm normally a very high energy person and now am down and dragging. I was taking Pristiq for more than 6 years and was feeling great. This is horrible. I see my doctor in 2 days and going to ask her to please prescribe Pristiq "name brand" or "as written" on the script. Don't know if Blue Cross will pay then or use me as a guinea pig for other meds.

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Re: Presk (# 17)

My insurance, Blue Cross, will no longer pay for the brand Pristiq. I have been placed on the generic and after 6 weeks, my 6+ years of not feeling depressed, I am now experiencing depression again, tiredness, unmotivated and unfocused. Very bad decision Blue Cross has made. I take other generic medications; heartburn and sleep aid and I have no complaints. I'm not against generics, just this one. Any feedback I could receive would be a huge help. I go to the doctor in a couple of days and am asking for the brand name. Hopefully she will and Blue Cross will cover.

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