Watson Vs. Mylan Generic Lorazepam Side Effects. (Page 4) (Top voted first)

Been on Sandoz mfr. lorazepam for 10 years; no problems; no need to increase dose. Sandoz stopped mfr. Now, can only get these generic's & Actavis. Having lots of troubles getting results; either nothing or zonked. Anyone else w/any experience which mfr. is closer to Sandoz (since FDA approves up to 2% differences in generics). Thank you.

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Gabby (# 469) --

Yes they are. But stupid Blue Cross is causing an issue!!! Saying they don’t want to pay for that many .5, my Doc put in a prior authorization. Still waiting. I have 20 mylans left and the rest Actavis. So frustrating. I actually work at a mental health/substance abuse clinic as a med assistant. So I know the battle with insurance. Biggest scam there is! We pay 700 a month for insurance and they pay for jack s***. Excuse my language.

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Re: Savannah (# 487)

I've been in your shoes and I still am. I have family members that are all in the same boat as us. Some have been able to take the new drugs available and some haven't. I've had two who tried to end their live's that took some of the meds that we've all taken. I've been told exactly what you were told you may need this for life.

Here's some food for thought if any of you guys know what they give for seizures such as grand mal seizures or petite, etc? Many are loaded up on some type of benzodiazepines group such as phenobarbital and others on top of that to live some kind of normal life. Yes there are many new drugs available that even they can't take. And do the doctors or pharmacist say anything about it? Absolutely not. Why because like many other illnesses that aren't stigmatized by mental health issues they say it's ok.

My daughter has a friend shes giving a room in her home to live while she is coping with seizures that doesn't want to take her medicine. Guess what she's loaded up on?

Another thing she and I have spoke about how they'll pump senior citizens up on opiates with no restraint or no concerns about it can do them in. But a young adult with degenerative disc disease has the same pain and they want them to cope with it.

My mother in law was given Narco and Tramadol on top of each other. She's in her late 80s with two fractured hips. My sister-in-law had no idea what the two drugs we're doing to her. My spouse had to explain to her seriously are you kidding me you've got mother on what and you leave her home alone. Tell me what's wrong with this whole picture I've explained here from the start.

The medical field and the pharmaceutical companies or the FDA are like this "Don't do as we do -do as we tell you"

We've got a person out here that adds their two cents worth about how these drugs are only for short term usage.Talks about all the side effects and what could possibly happen to us. Seriously dude like we don't already know what these drugs do. I think y'all know who I'm speaking of. The same person that's controlling what gets posted and what doesnt. Take your Rose stained glasses off and get out of your bubble room. Because until you have to deal with what w a lot of us are dealing with you have absolutely no idea what it feels like. People that only read from a text form has absolutely no right to dictate to anyone what they think is right or wrong. Respectfully spoken.

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Re: Deedee (# 500)

Hi Deedee, I'm in the same boat you're. My pharmacy knew this was going to happen way back in March. He could have done what you have going on (buy enough to cover me) and give me some time to pick up a medical plan (No luck on that) But yet he turned around and ordered some Sandoz which I don't know if they'll work. Even if they do there's a short supply in their warehouse. He told me what the pill looked like but I'm not certain that it's actually Sandoz. Haven't been able to get any replies back on here if it is. As for Mylan I'm sure you maybe right why they're not making it any more. I've heard many other factors as well. But heres the deal with that. If they really are stopping because they can't compete with Leading all they had to do is match their price or sell it a few cents cheaper. What I heard I'm not repeating out here because I can't say it's true. The complaining needs to go to the pharmacies that are buying a product that doesn't work. They are contributing to putting people in a talespin for a few cents. I've spoken to enough pharmacist in the past and just recent that they know many generics do not work for many people. The problem is if they're not a mom and pop most of them don't care. And being it's a benzo it just makes it worst for many. My pharmacies tech has way too much power. I play ring around the rose bush with this individual every time I call. Has no compassion about my situation at all. This too shall pass. Hope things are panning out you all.

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I'm happy for you.

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I recently had to take a long international flight and I needed to take my ativan again for the trip and also while overseas for 3 weeks. I asked my pharmacy Rite aid to order me the generic ativan watson for me and they said no problem and since I have been off the brand ativan for 6 months the generic watson works just fine.

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Most generic presecriptions are only 80% of the brand and the other 20% can be what they want. It does not have to contain what the brand contains. If you have been on a certain brand it will take for your body to adjust to a change. Believe me. I know how bad it can me. I thought I was losing my mind. My doctor told me it was the generic meds that were causing my problem. My body is finally used to the watson and I am okay.

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Mary, thanks for the information. Swag, thank you again. Doing OK now. Just took 1 & 1/2 of the 0.5 mg Watson lorazepam and it is working good. It wouldn't do me any good to try to ever come off of lorazepam seeing my normal state is a constant panic attack. This all came about after my parents died and then my younger sister died of cancer and my younger brother shot himself. I have an older brother who had cancer of the liver, but he is doing good now after surgery. Glad I found this place and had somebody to talk to while going through this experiance. Thank you all again.

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Wyeth was the original maker of brand named Ativan. When their patent ran out they sold it to Biovail which they are now hooked up with. Biovail Corporation (has merged with Valeant Pharmaceuticals) They are both a Canadian pharmaceutical company And they're making what many of you think is brand name Ativan. There are other companies that have produced the same dog shaped A on the front. But like I said nobody is making a brand name any more :( Its amazing how companies will throw away a good drug that helps many..... there ya have it gang. What we've all been through for 8 years plus.The main problem is how the drug is made. Please dont shoot the messenger k. Just trying to help. Good luck folks! GBU all!

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Lastly if you google Biovail vs Wyeth you'll many threads on their blog. I know I get all worked up over this. I'm sure many of you feel the same way. I have major anxiety disorders, along with major depression. What was odd when I took Wyeth I never needed a anti -depressant. My pdoc thought I was nuts till he asked other patients if the had the same effects. Plus it works for IBS and many other medical problems. I really hope this helps you guys. The fact we need to sound to the drug companies and FDA would be a wise idea. Warm regards Joe

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Cazzy,

I know what you mean, but just go with what works :) in my experience, Ranbaxy and Watson are about equal.

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Cazz I'm with Swag on this one. Use what you find works best. Everyones body is different so we'll all react to meds differently. Some folks just take another brand and they see no change. I wished I were one of them. Again I can't stress this enough. The brand name you all are buying is a generic. On the pill you'll see BPI. It used to say Wyeth. If it works for you and you don't mine paying the price all is well than. As for me Watson made a mess outta me took it for a month. I'm still battling the side effects. I had to buy Mylan outside the VA. Not happy, but you do what you have to. As always God Bless! Joe...

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I actually have done best on the generic brand ativan called Milan. The biggest mistake I made early January was switching from CVS to Walgreens because Walgreens was closer. The Sandoz from Walgreens was about 1/2 as effective as the Milan brand. I went with a new prescription because I was experiencing more anxiety and went from 3mg to 4mg and got it refilled with the Sandoz brand and I am actually counting down the days until I can get my prescription refilled from CVS with Milan. I am very sensitive to medications and the sad thing is that the generics can be 80 to 90% strength while the real thing is often 100%. I am disgusted with Walgreens. They gave me a generic brand of my depression meds called TEVA and after a week I was very depressed. I immediately went back to CVS and transferred all my prescriptions back. CVS is the best pharmacy that we have, in my opinion. I issued a complaint with the FDA about the TEVA manufacturer. There are hundreds of complaints about that manufacturer. That has to be a law suit waiting to happen, but I digress , all generics are not the same if your pills look different just make sure you can handle the different generic brand.

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Sally,

Many factors are involved in regards to the medication working during a first try. I've had teva, and had no strong opinion relating to its quality. I had better and worse. I would first discuss the dose with your doctor. Also if its a higher dose (1-2 mg), I found that taking half in the morning and half in the evening worked for a while. I just take .5 though so I just take the whole thing at night now because its fine for me. I'm not saying you should do that, just what I've had success with. I would say make sure the medication and dose work for you before worrying about manufacturer.

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I have been having a very difficult time. I have been on Ativan for over 10 years, which I know is not good, but it's what is. Out of the blue, I started feeling like I was in withdrawal. I'm not having panic, but my brain feels awful. I'm nervous and shaking. I don't feel like myself at all. I've also had horrible weakness in my body. Sometimes I'm so tired and feel like I've lost my energy, flu-like. And other times, like when I am in class, I am raw nerves. I told my dad, who is the one who puts the pills in bags for me each day (I get nervous around the pill bottles). I've been taking Watson brand for years, and when I told him about feeling so bad, he mentioned that the bottle now says manufactured by Actavis even though the pills still say Watson. I called my pharmacist, and he didn't even know anything had changed. I called Actavis (the old Watson), and they said the pill is still made in the same factory it always has been, and that she didn't know of any changes to the product. I suppose this could be psychological--but I have never felt anxiety manifest like this before. I am sleeping badly. I feel raw nerves. I am going back to my old coping mechanisms--I've been craving hot milk to calm down, which I haven't in years and years. I'm just shaky and a mess. It really feels like withdrawal to me. I am doing horribly in my classes now because I sit there shaking and with my brain feeling so bad I can't listen or pay attention. But on the other hand, the pills do look the same. And from what they've said this is just a name change. The other problem is that my dad makes 30 bags ahead of time with my daily meds, so I don't know which are which, but I've probably been taking the new bottle's pills for about the time I've been feeling bad.

I wish I could have this tested.

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Marcus,
They are the same pills. I talked with my pharmacist and Watson if it has Actavis on the label and you check the number of the pills they are the same. Sandoz bought the formulary for the Actavis brand which is terrible so you definitely don't want to see anything with Sandoz's name on it. Not to worry they are the same pills as Watson has always made.

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I have been taking 1mg Mylan brand Lorazepam for over 7 years now with no problems. Calms me down and balances me out. I lost my health insurance recently and got a 90 day refill at Walmart since it was cheaper. BIG MISTAKE. I took 1 pill and started feelin worse after 20 minutes. About an hour later i had the runs. I was so confused and thought i was having a panic attack so i took 2 more pills. I got so sick about 30 minutes later. I suffered through that night with the help of Zoloft. I looked up the pill on pill id and found it is made in India by Ranbaxy. Talked to Walmart pharmacists who didn't seem to care, but got the refill transferred to CVS so i got my old reliable Mylan.

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The Ranbaxy brand gave me acid mouth and sores all inside it. Walgreens did not inform me of the generic change. Back then I THOUGHT all generics were alike. They are not! It is the filler. I am highly allergic to drugs, and this one was no exception. The Mylan brand works for me! By the way, a smaller pharmacy will often agree to order your specific generic if it is not their main brand. The big stores will NOT.

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I get Watson brand generic with all of my drugs when possible They have the best generic valium, Norco 10 mg Hydrocodon 325 acetaminophn Mylan brands are the worst I can take 10 10mg of Mylan valium and not feel a thing where I can take 1 10mg or Watson valium and will get results Generics are allouded to be 20%+or- of acctive ingredent and of course fillers have a lot to with how the drug is assorbed in your system I do not understand how the FDA allows this to happen when such a descrepcey can be very harmfull of just plane not do the job your doctor intened it for Generic makers should have to go through blind studies just like the brand name drugs One thing you have to watch out for when you find a generic that works for you do not switch to some other brand of generic unless no longer made which happens alot It is unfourten for us ginie pigs that it is up to us to keep trying all these different generics before we find a suiteble one that works I used to be on Fentnal patches that were watson brand and when was in the hospital they gave me what they had on hand and i went into withdraws using the same dosage like I said watson I have found is the way to go for your money and peace of mind.

good luck to all of us and God Bless

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Debbie,

You need to see what works best for you. In my experience, I have to stay away from Mylan. You mentioned you can locate activis and Ranbaxy. Those two, for me, are similar. I feel like the timing of Ranbaxy is a little better for me, and it's as/more effective, but not intoxicating to me. So, I always say Ranbaxy is actually pretty solid for a cheaply produced brand, and that's what I use. Find out what is best for you though.

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I said it once and I'll say it again. Mylan from CVS has been excellent to me for 8 years now. Ranbaxy from Walmart was no good for me. The old Watson was great. Haven't been able to find the new formula.

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