Bad reaction to Generic from Brand Name?

[momof3boys]

So this is my first time trying a generic seizure medication, and now having to go back to the name brand seizure medication.

But One thing that took me by suprise is exacly how my body is handling this.

Its been 6 days since Ive been back on the name brand Keppra XR, and it was 14 days prior to that, that I had been on the generic keppra xr.

To this day, almost a week after being back on the keppra xr, name brand... Im still feeling so horriable. Lots of headaches, feeling tired, auras through out the day, seizures at night. I get the slow motion feelings through out the day more, and Im having alot of chest pain, which since last year, I was told I had a mild case of GERD. Ive treated it with prescription medication, and have been off of the medication since June. Now with this going on, my mother thinks its my body's way of reacting to all the stress this has been on my body.

I just hope this is normal for my body to still be feeling like crap after almost a week of being back on the name brand.

I had no issues with the name brand medication before switching to generic. So its just making me alittle concerned as to how long its been since I went back to the name brand and Im still feeling awful.

I wanted to see if anyone else had a similar experience? Did it take longer if you switched back to the name brand to start feeling like yourself again?


I was doing some searching online and came across this site that simple states how horriable generic keppra can me! If I would have known this before, I never would have tried the generic!

http://epilepsytalk.com/2010/07/17/...ting-to-more-seizures-side-effects-and-death/

 

[bandmom]

Thanks for that article, Kristin, it makes me never want to use generics again. Anna has taken generic Trileptal and Lamictal over the past 6 years (and tried generic Keppra for 6 days). We've always suspected the generics caused more side effects and break-through seizures, and have gone back and forth between generic and name-brand, but couldn't see clear differences like you seem to have. She's been back on brand name Lamictal for about a month (along with Vimpat) and still having break-through seizures, so for her maybe the generic was not to blame and Lamictal just doesn't work.

 

[Nakamova]

I think med transitioning in general is very hard on the brain. The brain tries to re-calibrate to deal with changes in doses, and it can be tougher if you're already under stress from seizures or something else. You may also be experiencing "start-up" keppra side effects. If you aren't taking the B6 and other vitamins at the moment you might want to give it a shot.

I hope you start feeling better soon.

p.s. Fun fact: I just read that women absorb 20% more Keppra than men!

 

[momof3boys]

Im feeling much better just over the past couple of days now. Ive always taken the vit b6, even with the generic, so when I switched back to the name brand, i took the vit b6 with it too. I think the hardest thing for me trying to feel back to normal again, is the tiredness, headaches, all the break through seizures that occured... which was from friday night when the first cluster happened... then again on satur and sun night... by the time tuesday came around, the night seizures stopped... but then thursday morning i woke up to feeling auras... but no seizures came. Ive been feeling fine yesterday and today. so far no seizures or auras!

Thats a neat fact that women absorb more then men.

 

[CQ:)]

I have never tried the generic name for my Anti Epilepsy Meds but last time I went to get my Keppra filled the chemist didn't have the name brand in stock so were going to give me the generic. I didn't know how different the generic was to the name brand so I asked them to get the name brand in for me.

I recently asked my epilepsy nurse if there is much difference between the generic Keppra & the brand name Keppra. She said she thought it was OK but would double check with the neurologist & the pharmacist. When she got back to me she let me know the pharmacist said it should be OK for me to try generic Keppra if it's made here in Australia because the ingredients in the Australian made Keppra are the same as brand name.I am due to get my Keppra script refilled next week so at less now that if the chemist doesn't have the name brand in then I am willing to try generic now I know it should be OK.

 

[momof3boys]

I was told the same thing by my neuro's nurse. But I wish now I wouldnt have never tried the generic. She did say that generics have different filters, and to check each time I order it if made by a different manufacter. But other than that, nothing else was said. After I tried the generic and started to feel different, then had the seizures, it took me a good week to get back to feeling like myself again. I did some googling and found alot of websites saying out of all the anti seizure medications out there, keppra was the one they had the most studys on that they had people give their feedback for generic vs brand name. They were suprised to see that people had more severe reactions to the generic keppra vs the name brand Keppra. Compared to other anti seizure medications where they tried the generics in those, and didnt have such severe side effects. The FDA was even mentioned in one ad, asking those who have tried the generic and had bad side effects to report it to the FDA. They are hoping to get people to give the FDA their feedback to let them see what severe side effects of the generic keppra people can get.

 

[tinathesingergirl]

Iv'e had problems with generic switches with my anti seizure meds so I am very particular with the pharmacy staff that I work with at the CVS I am at and they have been super understanding with me once I explanined it to the head pharmacist and the techs. In fact they stopped stocking the brand generic I was taking for both and I kindly asked them to order it in and now they order it in for me every month. As long as I give them 24 hours in advance I am golden. I am so reluctent to go mail order for this very reason. The keppra generic and topamax generic I am on are both from the same manufacturer by the way Mylan, so if you do not know who makes it you might want to ask your pharmacist or chemist if you are taking 2 or more meds and they are from different manufacturers you may be having reactions to different fillers....My best friend, her dad is a pharmacist and he was explaining this to me. She for example is only allergic to penicillian in its capsule form but not in its liquid form. weird right? Its all about the fillers....

Tina

 

[momof3boys]

Yeah its all different when it comes to generic medications. Whats weird is that Ive tried generic in other medications, not for my epilepsy, but for my PCOS. I was given metformin, and I had horriable side effects! I'll put this nicely... I couldnt leave the house without not knowing if I was going to have an "accident in my pants"!

It made my stomach feel like I had the flu! It wasnt good at all! That was my first time trying a generic, and I had to be switched to the name brand. Since then, it seems like all medications I try, my body cant tolerate the generic!

I did get luck this year though and when my dr who takes care of my PCOS, suggested I be put on a birth control pill for helping to regulate my cycle, and take care of some acne issues... she gave me the generic. I was scared, but gave it a try. It actually worked for me! Ive been on it since April and its worked out so far!

I wish I could take generic seizure medication.. but I know we cant all get what we want!