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Seizures and new medications
raiapiazza posted:
I've had epilepsy for over ten years and except for a few occasions I have been under good control with Depakote. The last two weeks have been just horrible- According to others I've been with, I've had at least 5 grand mal "large ones" and several short ones. There have been 2 med changes, a new generic depakote and the addition of generic lipitor. My doctor checked my depakote level- it is theraputic. Help!
6 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Seizures and new medicationsI've had epilepsy for over ten years and except for a few occasions I have been under good control with Depakote. The last two weeks have been just horrible- According to others I've been with, I've had at least 5 grand mal "large ones" and several short ones. There have been 2 med changes, a new generic depakote and the addition of generic lipitor. My doctor checked my depakote level- it is theraputic. Help!
clarinet2 responded:
If your seizures continue and are not doing as well as before I really feel you need to discuss this with your doctor. Some patients respond fine to generic while others are much better sticking with brand names.
I know that my doctor and I discussed brand and generic medications for my seizure disorder and he agreed that since my seizures are doing well with brand he did not want me to switch to generic.
Good Luck
I know that my doctor and I discussed brand and generic medications for my seizure disorder and he agreed that since my seizures are doing well with brand he did not want me to switch to generic.
Good Luck
Report This| Share this:Seizures and new medicationsIf your seizures continue and are not doing as well as before I really feel you need to discuss this with your doctor. Some patients respond fine to generic while others are much better sticking with brand names.<br /> <br />I know that my doctor and I discussed brand and generic medications for my seizure disorder and he agreed that since my seizures are doing well with brand he did not want me to switch to generic. <br /> <br />Good Luck
meredithc18 replied to clarinet2's response:
agree, you should go with the brand drugs. the insurance company will fight you on this one, they always look for the cheaper way out, but the reason the generic is cheaper is because it leaves something out. with us having ep. we don't need a drug that is leaving something out. I had to have my eptiologist right a letter to my insurance company stating why i had to have the brand drugs and then the insurance company finally would give them to me instead of switching them out for the cheaper generic.
if the brand works and you are successful, stick with it!
if the brand works and you are successful, stick with it!
Report This| Share this:Seizures and new medications<i>agree, you should go with the brand drugs. the insurance company will fight you on this one, they always look for the cheaper way out, but the reason the generic is cheaper is because it leaves something out. with us having ep. we don't need a drug that is leaving something out. I had to have my eptiologist right a letter to my insurance company stating why i had to have the brand drugs and then the insurance company finally would give them to me instead of switching them out for the cheaper generic. <br />if the brand works and you are successful, stick with it!</i>
hula_dancer73 replied to meredithc18's response:
you are very wrong.
THe generics have EXACTLY the same ingresiants in them the THe FDA will not and can not by law change the main ingredient change what is in them jus the fillers. fillers aer what is different nad those are wh at can make people sick. NOt wherer it is generic or brand-name.
I am on ALL gemerics and they wor k just fine.
I took 7 classes on drugs in college due to the cleases for being a paramedic. IT took 2 years toget thru those classes but I did and wiht Bs wiht sinme As in the drug classes.
hula_dancer
THe generics have EXACTLY the same ingresiants in them the THe FDA will not and can not by law change the main ingredient change what is in them jus the fillers. fillers aer what is different nad those are wh at can make people sick. NOt wherer it is generic or brand-name.
I am on ALL gemerics and they wor k just fine.
I took 7 classes on drugs in college due to the cleases for being a paramedic. IT took 2 years toget thru those classes but I did and wiht Bs wiht sinme As in the drug classes.
hula_dancer
Report This| Share this:Seizures and new medicationsyou are very wrong.<br /> <br />THe generics have EXACTLY the same ingresiants in them the THe FDA will not and can not by law change the main ingredient change what is in them jus the fillers. fillers aer what is different nad those are wh at can make people sick. NOt wherer it is generic or brand-name.<br /> <br />I am on ALL gemerics and they wor k just fine.<br /> <br />I took 7 classes on drugs in college due to the cleases for being a paramedic. IT took 2 years toget thru those classes but I did and wiht Bs wiht sinme As in the drug classes.<br /> <br />hula_dancer
dancer86442 responded:
Hello rai,
So, there is Less confusion please read this about the differences between generic & Brand. http://www.ehow.com/about_5125489_difference-brand-name-generic-drugs.html
Suggestion: Ask your Pharmacist if there is any known adverse reactions between your meds. Are they still getting their 'Generic' meds thru the same Manufacturer? That can Mean a Lot.
Question: How long have you been on these 'changes'? Changing from Brand to generic can increase seizure activity, too. So, if you have been on them less than 6 weeks, wait it out. If more than 6 weeks, than Insist you go back to Brand (on Depakote, anyway).
Hope this helps. Let us know how you are doing. HUGS!
Love Candi
So, there is Less confusion please read this about the differences between generic & Brand. http://www.ehow.com/about_5125489_difference-brand-name-generic-drugs.html
Suggestion: Ask your Pharmacist if there is any known adverse reactions between your meds. Are they still getting their 'Generic' meds thru the same Manufacturer? That can Mean a Lot.
Question: How long have you been on these 'changes'? Changing from Brand to generic can increase seizure activity, too. So, if you have been on them less than 6 weeks, wait it out. If more than 6 weeks, than Insist you go back to Brand (on Depakote, anyway).
Hope this helps. Let us know how you are doing. HUGS!
Love Candi
Report This| Share this:Seizures and new medicationsHello rai,<br /><br />So, there is Less confusion please read this about the differences between generic & Brand. <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ehow.com/about_5125489_difference-brand-name-generic-drugs.html">http://www.ehow.com/about_5125489_difference-brand-name-generic-drugs.html</a> <br /><br />Suggestion: Ask your Pharmacist if there is any known adverse reactions between your meds. Are they still getting their 'Generic' meds thru the same Manufacturer? That can Mean a Lot. <br /><br /> Question: How long have you been on these 'changes'? Changing from Brand to generic can increase seizure activity, too. So, if you have been on them less than 6 weeks, wait it out. If more than 6 weeks, than Insist you go back to Brand (on Depakote, anyway). <br /><br />Hope this helps. Let us know how you are doing. HUGS!<br /><br />Love Candi
clarinet2 replied to dancer86442's response:
Hula dancer is correct about the main ingredients which are the same and the fillers can be different or even the coating. I work in a hospital pharmacy with Pharmacists who are doctors and brought this topic up with our specialists.
Every person's body responds differently. For patients who have been on brand name for quite a long time and are seizure free we can be taking a chance when switching to generic that the fillers may react slightly with other medications or even other things like vitamins and throw our system off a bit.
Why take the chance especially if a person is seizure free and or could even be driving. That is one reason I will not change, I do not want to take teh chance of throwing my system off and possibly have a seizure when driving and harm someone else or even myself.
If I was just diagosed with seizures I would definately try generic first and if that did not work then brand name.
Every person's body responds differently. For patients who have been on brand name for quite a long time and are seizure free we can be taking a chance when switching to generic that the fillers may react slightly with other medications or even other things like vitamins and throw our system off a bit.
Why take the chance especially if a person is seizure free and or could even be driving. That is one reason I will not change, I do not want to take teh chance of throwing my system off and possibly have a seizure when driving and harm someone else or even myself.
If I was just diagosed with seizures I would definately try generic first and if that did not work then brand name.
Report This| Share this:Seizures and new medicationsHula dancer is correct about the main ingredients which are the same and the fillers can be different or even the coating. I work in a hospital pharmacy with Pharmacists who are doctors and brought this topic up with our specialists.<br /> <br />Every person's body responds differently. For patients who have been on brand name for quite a long time and are seizure free we can be taking a chance when switching to generic that the fillers may react slightly with other medications or even other things like vitamins and throw our system off a bit.<br /> <br />Why take the chance especially if a person is seizure free and or could even be driving. That is one reason I will not change, I do not want to take teh chance of throwing my system off and possibly have a seizure when driving and harm someone else or even myself.<br /> <br />If I was just diagosed with seizures I would definately try generic first and if that did not work then brand name.
saxofone1 responded:
Hi raia,
this is a mess!! I have read the other posts and see a bit of truth in each one. Some people can switch from name brand to generics with no problem while others might have seizures or a bad tolerance for them. I take a brand name as well as a generic form. The two work well together. As usual, it took some time to find the right combo.
As was said earlier, we all react differently to the same meds, name or generic. If what you are currently taking name, generic or both, and you are content with the seizure control and the side-effects, I feel there is no reason to change.
My current nurse warned us about different med companies because of the slight possibility of different mixes/formula. It like having a recipe but adding or eliminating somethin, or replacing green peppers for red peppers.
I can only say that find what works for you. Be comfortable with your doc's and your decisions. We all handle our meds like we handle our ep. Individually, we must find the right mixture that we can be happy with.
I wish you well. It has been 37 years of meds, docs, tests, etc but I am still moving forward.
I don't feel any of the posts are saying that the others are wrong. Everyone is sharing what they know. Hope we all have been of some assistance to you.
angie
this is a mess!! I have read the other posts and see a bit of truth in each one. Some people can switch from name brand to generics with no problem while others might have seizures or a bad tolerance for them. I take a brand name as well as a generic form. The two work well together. As usual, it took some time to find the right combo.
As was said earlier, we all react differently to the same meds, name or generic. If what you are currently taking name, generic or both, and you are content with the seizure control and the side-effects, I feel there is no reason to change.
My current nurse warned us about different med companies because of the slight possibility of different mixes/formula. It like having a recipe but adding or eliminating somethin, or replacing green peppers for red peppers.
I can only say that find what works for you. Be comfortable with your doc's and your decisions. We all handle our meds like we handle our ep. Individually, we must find the right mixture that we can be happy with.
I wish you well. It has been 37 years of meds, docs, tests, etc but I am still moving forward.
I don't feel any of the posts are saying that the others are wrong. Everyone is sharing what they know. Hope we all have been of some assistance to you.
angie
Report This| Share this:Seizures and new medicationsHi raia,<br /> <br />this is a mess!! I have read the other posts and see a bit of truth in each one. Some people can switch from name brand to generics with no problem while others might have seizures or a bad tolerance for them. I take a brand name as well as a generic form. The two work well together. As usual, it took some time to find the right combo.<br /> <br />As was said earlier, we all react differently to the same meds, name or generic. If what you are currently taking name, generic or both, and you are content with the seizure control and the side-effects, I feel there is no reason to change.<br /> <br />My current nurse warned us about different med companies because of the slight possibility of different mixes/formula. It like having a recipe but adding or eliminating somethin, or replacing green peppers for red peppers.<br /> <br />I can only say that find what works for you. Be comfortable with your doc's and your decisions. We all handle our meds like we handle our ep. Individually, we must find the right mixture that we can be happy with.<br /> <br />I wish you well. It has been 37 years of meds, docs, tests, etc but I am still moving forward. <br /> <br />I don't feel any of the posts are saying that the others are wrong. Everyone is sharing what they know. Hope we all have been of some assistance to you.<br /> <br />angie
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