Apotex Vs Pliva Trazodone (Top voted first)

My pharmacy just switched manufacturers of my prescription trazodone 50mg. It used to be made by apotex now it is pliva and I am finding that the new pills are having little to no effect and I am starting to suffer discontinuation syndrome. I talked to my pharmacist and doctor and neither one could tell me what was causing this. I was just wondering if there is anyone out there who could shed some light on the subject.

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REPORT

Yes, I can.

Under Federal Law, by way of the Hatch Watchman Act of 1984, generics are allowed to differ from their name brand counterparts by as much as plus or minus 20% in the active ingredient.

Many people are not aware of this, including doctors, but the FDA considers this to be a very minor difference that does not affect the therapeutic dosing of medications.

So, the medication you were getting from Apotex may have had the proper amount of the active ingredient Trazodone or perhaps a little more.

Now, the one you are getting from Pliva might have a variation so you are not getting as much as you were, before.

There are some people who are unaffected by such differences, but some people are very sensitive to it.

The only thing you can really do is ask your pharmacy if they can get the one made by Apotex back in for you, or try other pharmacies and see if they have it.

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Trazodone/­

Do you have any questions?

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As a psychiatrist, I have found trazodone to be an extremely useful medication. I'm not sure what the product made by Pliva is, but I've seen many, many patients do poorly on it; it seems to act more like an antihistamine--i.e., it does make people drowsy--but it does not seem to restore a high-quality sleep. The best trazodone, in my opinion, is sold by Qualitest; Apotex is okay, but in our opinion not as good. We always specify to the pharmacy, Trazodone NOT made by Pliva.
Here's my question: once a generic company is certified to make a generic product, do they ever have to be recertified? Or can that company just coast along for decades, turning out God-knows-what, and everyone assumes it must be okay because the FDA, once upon a time, checked it out and declared it okay?

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I have been taking Pliva trazodone, as needed, for sleep. Worked great, but my pharmacist switched from Pliva to Apotex and now it is not working for me.

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Happened to me to --- went from sleeping 7-8 hours most nights to sleeping 5 hours. Taking an extra 50mg didn't help at all. It's very frustrating.

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Hi Dorothy: I've been taking .25 mg of Trazodone for over 10 years to sleep (to fall asleep). I've taken many brands: Watson, Teva, Pliva and now Apotex which would be my least favorite. If you can get to sleep without it, do it as often as possible, or else you will be addicted as I am, despite the low dosage. They don't all have the same effect. Some brands have binders or fillers which don't agree with you as well.

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Thanks for this info. I'm having the exact same issues after pharmacy switched me to Pliva. I'm very sensitive to meds, so your explanation makes a lot of sense.

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My pharmacy just switched to Pliva and I started the Trazodone 3 nights ago. Can't go to sleep without taking 50% more than I'm used to AND getting severe headaches in the middle of the night. Anyone else experienced these headaches with the Pliva?

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The only brand of trazodone that works for me Apotex. I am going to call the FDA Compliance Department to report Pliva and Teva as ineffective. I think we should all do that.

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I am on Trazadone 150 mg, the pharmacy changed to mfg apotex which is not working as well as the mfg sidmak.

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Your difficulty sounds similar to what I experienced when Watson Labs ceased production of Trazodone. Their version was very good whereas Pliva's Trazodone–as well as the quality of many of the other makers– is disgustingly poor.
Some generics have less active ingredient or binders & fillers that do not metabolize like brand versions or better quality generics.
I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU FIND YOURSELF A PHARMACY WHO WILL PROCURE TRAZODONE MADE BY APOTEX. THE APOTEX VERSION IS THE CLOSEST THING TO WHAT WATSON MADE.
Bear in mind too that a 'brand' version of Trazodone has not existed since its patent expiration.
Take some time to read about the "Hatch-Waxman Act" in order to get a better idea of why so many generic psychotropic medications are, relatively speaking, "expensive garbage".

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I am actually experiencing the opposite effect. My pharmacy switched from PLIVA to APOTEX. The Apotex pills do nothing for my insomnia (even when doubling the dose) and I have instead been getting hot flashes at night.

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I too, think the Apotex brand of Trazadone not as potent

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My pharmacist switched teva to apo it's supposed to be the same. But it is not apo did nothing for me and I as well have withdrawal symptoms. I was fine and now I'm a mess again.

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Yes I have the same issue: Walgreens uses Apotex or at least that what I got and they are better that the pills I get from Medco Pliva. Pliva doesn't work I'm going to see if I can change.

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Re: Marabelle (# 97)

Where are you located? I have the opposite problem—I cannot tolerate the Apotaex version though Teva works fine. My file at Walgreens is clearly marked “Teva only” but three times the pharmacy has ordered the Apotax version, and has not been able to locate a Teva source. I am in the fourth day of a combination of poisoning and withdrawal. Can you help me find a source?

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I just called Apotex and the customer service rep told me that they are having some problems with the FDA but once they are resolved, trazodone will be back on the market. She estimated it would be a few months.

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One other thing...I have been experiencing hair loss since I started taking the Pliva brand...don't think it's a coincidence. I was fine with the Apotex. Anyone else experience this?

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I am having the same problem with the trazodone made by Pliva, which my Pharmacy switch to because they could not get Apotex. This is the second time this has happen, previously it was about a year ago but they were able to resume filling the Rx with Apotex in about two months. They were able to get Mylan but it still does not work like Apotex. Really having a hard time with this, its like I am having withdrawals (anxiety, irritability and disassociation). Does anyone have any suggestions or know if Apotex is still making trazodone?

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I have been in touch with Apotex since last spring and they keep telling me to check back in three months regarding whether or not it will come back on the US market. I guess there's a possibility it won't. They told me to check back again in February.

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Get rid of the Pliva now,Pharmacys always try to pull this.Plva Is cheaper and full of bad fillers ,the pill Is bigger Isnt It . They will say Its The Same But You know Its Not.. So switch Drug Stores If you have to Apotex Is Made By a Canadion Pharmacy And Is Cleaner!! Don't Take any Lip..

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