Sheila Says:
Switching From Pristiq To Generic Desvenlafaxine (Page 5)
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Deb Says:
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?
157 Replies (8 Pages)
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77
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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Amy Says:
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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K2SO Says:
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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Pat Says:
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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Cheryl Says:
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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John Says:
Yes three months on generic, I feel tired and can't focus.
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Pat Says:
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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K2SO Says:
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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K2SO Says:
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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K2SO Says:
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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LY33633 Says:
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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Lwilson Says:
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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Jeremy Says:
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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Kate Says:
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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Happy now Says:
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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Deborah Says:
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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Leen Says:
Re: PJ (# 1)
I also had problems with generic. For financial assistance, go to Phizer, Pristiq website. You may qualify for discount. That $1,000 charge doesn't sound right at all. Is it because of insurance or pharmacy? I'd check again.
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Leen Says:
Re: K2SO (# 18)
Called my pharmacy (Walgreens) and am unable to switch to greenstone. Co-pay for Pristiq itself $140 through my Part D insurer. Fortunately, I can afford it. The side effects of generics go way beyond just depression and tiredness. Having stomach aches, flatulence, bowel upset, then loss of appetite. When I get hungry again, the cycle repeats. If you have Rx insurance, check with the pharmacy. It's so horribly depressing to find something that works and have to discontinue because of manufacturer's supply. Has anyone complained to the FDA?
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Debbie Says:
So maddening!! I switched because of insurance change no the cost. Then after about 3 months when I went for my 6-month check my dr said look in line for a coupon!!!! Why don't they tell us this when we are forced to switch instead of us having to go through hell and our spouses??? Hate it. Anyway I now pay $15.00 a refill unreal!!
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