Funky Hiatus
For the past few weeks i have eyed many of my favorite blogs (see the Blogroll for my favorites) and yet have been able to write little. Medications do that to you.
i hate to harp on the subject, but psychotropic drugs are powerful and effect everything one does, *especially* while in the midst of changing them. And, it turns out, not all medications are made the same.
Back in February, my doctor did not have any more Wellbutrin XL samples to give me, so he wrote a prescription and I went down to my local Costco pharmacy to fill it (they have the best prices). The kind people at the pharmacy are familiar with me, so they naturally gave me the generic Budeprion XL which rings in at about $114 for a 30-day supply versus the name brand’s price of $148. i happily took my discounted drugs and practically skipped home with delight of saving thirty bucks.
In the beginning of March, i noticed something was different. Uncomfortable, even. i was slightly depressed. Nothing drastic, but on the 0 to 10 i use (0 = suicidal attempting, please kill me depression; 5 = stable; 10 = hallucinating, delusions of inane grandeur mania) i was hovering between a 3 and 4. Just low enough to notice and have little energy or motivation. The house quickly went to crap with unfinished projects scattered on the floor and dishes piling up.
Being the fanatic researcher i am, i quickly turned to my trusty friends on the web to help me decipher the funkiness i was experiencing. Soon, i learned that in the experience of my other spazzoid friends, that 300 mg Budeprion XL is more likely equal to 200 mg of Wellbutrin XL. Problem being my prescription is 300 mg of Wellbutrin and i was given 300 mg of Budeprion.
Ohhhhhhhhh.
Last Thursday after a breakthrough episode of depression and rising inexplicable anxiety, the hubby and i buckled down and headed back to the pharmacy, this time asking for the refill to be of Wellbutrin.
Only 5 days later and i’m already feeling immensely better. Nearing stable even.
It’s with that sigh of relief that i return back to my little blog. Hello again, everybody!
March 29th, 2007 at 6:34 am
wow.
I REALLY like my drug plan. 5.00 flat for every prescription.
Hope it’s better. THat sounds weird.
March 29th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
The problem with generic formulas is that only the active ingredient is replicated. The auxilliary components and inert compounds are propiretary to each product, and are not evaluated as to their impact on effect (i.e. although it might still contain 300mg of the same ingredient, the supporting matrix [the tablet] might not as readily dissolve allowing your body to absorb it). The FDA also does not subject most manufacturers of generics undergoing an ANDA to as stringent testing required of a new formulary.
While this might not matter in something as germaine as an antibiotic, it should definately be examined more closely for drugs targeting neurochemsitry. I’ve heard about it too in other cases, namely insulin and biologically derived products. It’s the nature of our business. (Not to mention the corners that are cut to shave costs in the game of generics…but I digress)
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April 16th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
[...] Scribe found out that generic and brand-name drugs are sometimes not the same, at least for her. I know that generics can be a significant cost savings for people, and that [...]
April 17th, 2007 at 6:53 am
Wow, it would seem that when we are given a generic, we expect it to be the same. Generic can mean, different strength and ability to work as well? Think how many medications that may apply to…scary thought. The question becomes, how do we know which are equals and which aren’t? :\
February 11th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
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