Watson Vs. Mylan Generic Lorazepam Side Effects. (Page 2) (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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I don't understand why excellium works as well as ranbaxy did for me, but not for others? I also did the roller coaster ride looking for a generic after the FDA put an end to ranbaxy in the US. I hope those suffering find the solution for their chemistry. I know first hand how devastating anxiety can be. I am so happy to be me again.

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I also got the Watson brand of Lorazepam from my local Costco Pharmacy. (The mail order ONLY carries Actavis brand). BUT I SWEAR even with the Watson name, it's not the same at all. I wish I could afford Ativan but it's humongously expensive. Sigh.

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I found out that my local Costco Pharmacy (vs. Mail Order Costco Pharmacy) HAS the Watson brand of Lorazepam. I hope to hell it's really Watson. My doctor sent RX in and specified WATSON.

What a CRIME all the nonsense patients go through to get an effective generic of Ativan. What is going with these UNETHICAL Pharmacy Companies. Why doesn't Congress INVESTIGATE THEM??? Oh boy do I long for a NEW CONGRESS with a few exceptions. Elizabeth Warren is a really feisty activist. So many don't care at all. Makes me so angry.

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Hello. I need some help finding a Watson brand Ativan. The manufacturer "Actavis" is making me sick! It's taken me a long time to put it together. Please help. I have been taking Watson Ativan for years. Now they changed it and I'm having a hard time. I tried Sandoz, but no go. I found a smaller pharmacy that has "Leading Pharma llc" but I can't find any reviews. Has anyone tried it?

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Re: pjcentral (# 388)

Pj, I'm not sure we've talked before. I can tell you from my experience only that the pill you're describing is exactly what I took around 2004. That's when Biovail took over from Wyeth.

Let me back-up here for a second. I'm not trying to be right here in any way. What I'm trying to say is this. One I'm not concerned that Valeant is making Ativan. I'm not concerned that Biovail used to make Ativan. I'm not concerned that Valeant is now owner of the rights of AtIvan. Ok that is outta the way.

Here's where the confusion comes in. (Not being argumentative) If you have taken Ativan since the 80's you would know that the pill was made by Wyeth. You would have seen Wyeth on the pill with a 64 on the one side (1mg tab) and a embossed A on the front. You're now seeing the same thing with only one change. Wyeth's name removed and BPI on it.

Next when Biovail took over the rights to Ativan they were a new innovated company that marketed generics. Their whole website talked about how they were changing the dynamics of the medications. That improving medications from brand names to generics.

Next I spoke with their people on the phone to clarify whether they changed the formula to a generic. They said they did. The price was lower now then it was and cheaper to buy.

In comes my personal experience with trial usage of the new pill. One I started having worsening panic. Needed to take more of the new pill. At that point I called my pdoc. Explained to him what I was experiencing. I talked to the head pharmacist at my VA hospital. She research everything that I did and confirmed that Biovail did turn it into a generic.

At that time I was told that they would no longer pay for Ativan "brand name" because it was now a generic and they could get a generic cheaper. In came Mylan for me. Through trial we found a level that worked for me. I've been on Mylan since then.

Every now again the VA would get a different generic that I took and had failures with. My pdoc was understanding and gracious and told the pharmacy to get Mylan only for me.

Here's my conclusion I've read the other post out here that others have spoken about. I've seen the post that you had with someone named Doc. This person had pretty much the same experience with the change. (Footnote) When the VA does something in one state they do it across the board in all states. When they Implement new changes it's not just with one hospital/clinic. It's a full change as i said nationwide. (So note that Doc's experiences we're like mine just like so to say others have had the same experience with Watson identically like they did. Or Leading and so on).

Understand this though. It doesn't mean that some doctors in the VA don't have leverage to ask for a different medication if they see that the ones some Vets are taken don't work.

I agree with Doc that at the time of the switch Biovail made Ativan a generic. They kept the same look with two changes. One the formula and two the name.

Food for thought. You may have taken the Wyeth brand and Biovail brand which you never experience any difference. Many folks have spoke about this out here. Not only with this brand but other types of generics in Lorazepam forums. So I'm thinking you may have been blessed with that experience.

Conclusions. Do I believe that at the time Valeant bought the rights to brand name Ativan they might have changed it back to its original formula in 2009? Honestly I can't tell you whether that is true. I've never taken it since Biovail took over but for a short period.

All I know is that on Valeant's website they show they sell brand name and a generic. Are they two different formulas? One I haven't seen the Valeant/Biovail generic pill and Savannah and you both say that brand looks like the original Wyeth. I just know I'd like to see their generic and be able to try it. I'd really like to try their brand name. Because if it's the original formula I'd like to think I could drop my dose down. But the VA isn't going to pay for it and as I spoke to Savannah I could pick up a medical insurance plan with no guarantee that I could get someone to write the brand name and be able to purchase it with my new insurance.

Final thoughts here. I'm happy for you that your experience all around has been positive and that you see no changes. It's nice to know that you have an insurance plan this willing to work with you that will pay the difference for a medication that's very expensive.

These are my truthful experiences and nothing more. I have no reason to doubt the pharmacist I spoke of or other pharmacist that have told me the same thing back when the change was made when it was turned into a generic pill. Plus reading not only Biovail's website and talking to them.

To Medschat. I apologize if by any means I've come across harsh in anyway out here. That if I've said anything that may have gone against policy I'm truly sorry. It wasn't my intentions at all. I've only spoke of my personal experiences. I apologize to Savannah and I believe things are understood now. Do I still think there has been someone speaking that's the same person out here. Yes I do. Some I haven't seen since I said it. My only problem was we all were getting different answers from Mylan. Then to find out some of us were told one thing and others another. It was frustrating to say the least. But I apologized after I found out Mylan wasn't being honest. I tried to stay positive that Mylan was telling someone is that they were going to continue making their generic lorazepam.

Understand that this has been rough on many of us out here. Wish you all good health and hope you all find a new brand that works for you.

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242/2 round are great, dependable. Very little fillers & good active %

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I have been on the Watson brand for years from a local pharmacy. Last month I just switched my lorazepam prescription to Walgreens. I was skeptical because the pills looked different but figured it was no big deal; well they were Actavis. They do NOTHING but make me very, very tired. I called Walgreens and they had me call my local pharmacy that I used to be at to obtain the mfr. So Walgreens is going to check if they can order Watson, if not I will have to transfer back to my local pharmacy. I cannot believe the differences 2 of the "same" drugs can have!!!

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I had my Doctor switch my RX to Xanax 0.5 mg,get the generic form Alprazolam. I only have to take 1/2 tablet. It has worked excellent for relieving my anxiety.
You may want to ask your Doctor's about changing.

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Yeah, Watson is good, Excellium and Mylan not bad, but Purepac just makes you feel like there is something wrong with you. That's not quite the idea...

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Thank you for those who replied. I'm still on the same Watson pills (though the bottle says Actavis). I am feeling better now, so who knows what was going on. There can be psychological issues that make me feel different. Even a virus can do it to me. I'm not sure what it was, but thankfully it passed. It was different from usual. I guess that's what's strange about anxiety—it often can feel very different. I sort of feel like I get used to how anxiety feels and then I experience it in a completely different way.

Strangely enough my Paxil just changed as well, but is also the same pill! I had been taking Aurobindo, and my pharmacy switched me to Greenstone, but it's the same, identical pill with the same color and markings on it. Turns out both Greenstone and Aurobindo use the same manufacturer for their pills. This is a very strange market. I told my pharmacist how it's odd that we buy organic everything, including things we don't even put in our bodies, but when it comes to medications, they're coming from all over the world in questionable qualities.

Anyhow, I just wanted to update this to let people know that the Watson/Actavis Ativan was not my problem. I'm not sure what was. Like, I said it could have been psychological factors, but sometimes the way I feel is so physically bad that it's hard to believe it's just stress, etc.

Thank you again.

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I have a pharmacy friend that said these generics are never tested again once they get FDA approval. So a pharmaceutical company may get approval and years later change something to increase profits and then it is never tested again, so you don't know if what you are getting is exactly what they say it is. I think the FDA should test these companies medications at least 1 per year to make sure they are still selling what they originally were selling. But with the government always wanting to save money, it is lacking in continually monitoring these companies.

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Crazy how much subtle differences matter. I've been on Ativan for years and ranbaxy works best for me, by far. Hope everyone is doing well!

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Nothing is as good as the real Ativan but it just costs too much. I use the Watson brand. I have tried Ranbaxy and Activis both made me worse. I had horrible reactions to these. Since I have been sticking with the Watson no problems. I only take it once a day at night.

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I was taking Ranbaxy generic Loranzepam for a couple of years with no problems. They were fine. Then CVS changed my prescription with generic Qualitest brand and these are just absolute garbage. Made me dizzy, Didnt feel right, slightly more anxious than usual and have me insomnia. After 3 days of this crap I had enough and demanded the pharmacist replace this cheap knock off medication with the old Ranbaxy pills that worked better for me. Speak up and complain. The employees and pharmacist agreed with me that this is happening a lot right now. They are switching generics on a lot of medication to cut costs. Getting cheaper pills because they're buying in bulk. This is absolute nonsense. Big Pharm screwing over patients by providing inferior medications. I'm no longer using CVS because now they are only carrying these Qualitest junk pills.

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I spoke to Ranbaxy yesterday. It will take 2 to 3 years for the FDA to approve a new supplier for the active ingredient. Their former supplier cannot supply them anymore for some reason. They cannot sell Lorazepam until then.

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Hi Caz7, That is called the Exception policy. Any time you have to take a brand only drug your doctor has to fax to pharmacy the reason why you can not take generic, Sometimes it is a pain to get the doctor to send it in so keep rechecking with CVS to see if they have received it. They will then make the decision. We live in a world controlled by generic companies even though, as you know, we can be drastically affected by them in a negative way with both our health & budget. Keep me posted, STURG

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I also have returned to using Ativan brand since I couldn't get similar results from ANY generic except Ranbaxy. Thankfully my RX plan has changed at work so instead of paying $1,100.00 (a sin!) with 50% reimbursement I now have a $40.00 copay. Ativan brand, for me at least, has always been the best and an effective treatment for my anxiety and occasional panic attacks. If any of you have the choice, forget about all the problems we all have discussed with the generics and use the brand. For me, I now have a normal life again without the side effects I have spoken about.Too bad Valeant has to be so greedy in their pricing!!!!!!! There ought to be a law against drug company price gouging especially since many drugs were developed using taxpayer money.

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Sandoz pill 98. If you can find it, very effective at .50 mg does. But can't find it. Walgreens, target, cvs, Walmart, Safeway and raleys all seem to carry very weak ineffective generics of lorapezam. Only 2 or 3 pills seems to do anything. Hopefully those companies will change to a more effective generic soon.

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Thats correct and they are using Actavis name but watson still uses their formulary for most of their prodcucts. My Lorazepam is the watson 241 pill but the label is under Actavis. Sandoz has the old Actavis formulary watson sold it to them. You can still get watson drugs you just have to ask for that brand but the label will say Actavis because thats their new name.

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I spoke to someone at Watson when all this was going on. She told me their formula was not changing and I have been on the 241 pill for at least 5 years with no problems. I definitely had problems with the actavis brand.

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