Keppra to generic levetiracetam

[Lily93]

I've just collected my (supposedly) Keppra from the pharmacy and discovered that it's actually a generic brand. The doctor who wrote my prescription isn't my usual doctor, and I can't get in touch with my specialist at the moment.

I'm an anxious person by nature, and having read things on the internet about an increase in seizures when changing from branded to generic I'm almost having panic attacks.

I haven't had a seizure for a couple of years. Just a few weeks ago I finally was able to get a provisional driving license and hope to start learning to drive soon. To have that license revoked because I've been forcibly switched to a generic brand is something that I desperately want not to happen.

Anyone have any experience of something similar?

 

[Nakamova]

Keep trying to reach your normal specialist or someone in his practice that may be able to sort things out for you. And try talking to the pharmacy about getting a temporary rx for the brand version. If you can't, don't get too anxious about what might happen on the generic -- the generics work fine for many, many people (including me).

Best,
Nakamova

 

[Lily93]

Thanks It's good to hear from someone who they work for!

 

[julie wishes]

You can call the pharmacy and they will switch it out for brand name. At least that was my experience. Especially since you were on brand name and they already know that from their records.

 

[Lily93]

Yeah, I was planning to go in and talk (or possibly shout) at the pharmacy tomorrow. Possibly talking calmly would work better Thanks

 

[AngelwithDentedHalo]

I've been on Levetiracetam from day one. The only time I was on name brand Keppra was in the hospital last two times I was in there, for my brain surgery and then kidney failure. To tell the truth, I couldn't tell one bit of difference. The Generic costs less and being the generic costs over $200, I can't imagine what the name brand is but when they give it to you in the hospital, the prices for pills triple. I've never had side effects at all and I've been taking it for over year and a half.

 

[bandmom]

When my daughter's brand name lamictal was switched to generic it was a pain to get the brand name back again, the pharmacy told us the insurance company wouldn't allow it without a letter from her doctor stating why she needs to have brand only. We've gone back and forth between brand and generic several times now, still not sure whether the generic is causing problems, or if other factors are (she is currently on generic).