Hi Everyone!
I was diagnosed with epilepsy in June of 2010 caused by Grey Matter Heterotopia. I did a few rounds of some meds, then when Keppra XR came out, my doctor gave me samples and I did great on it. Last month, the insurance company told me that with the generic now out, I'd either have to switch, or pay a higher price. At first, I kept the brand, then decided to give the generic a shot.
To say this has been the worst month of my life is an understatement. All I want to do is sleep (and can sleep all day given the opportunity). I'm dizzy most of the time, irritable, no energy...just every hideous feeling imaginable. Now, one interesting thing..the generic med showed dosage as 2 tablets twice a day (my dosage is 2000 a day). On the brand name, it was 4/500mg pills every morning. So, I asked the pharmacist who said it may have been a mistake, and to take four each day. I tried both ways, two and two, then four in one day. Nothing worked, and I kept feeling worse.
Yesterday, I called my neurologist's office. Normally, the people there are nice, but this one woman I've dealt with a few times..she is just nasty on the phone. I asked why when they called in my prescription, they changed the dosing, shouldn't generic be the same? She puts me on hold..comes back, and says that because it's "not the same" the dosage was changed. I was like, how can it NOT be the same? Doesn't that negate the Extended Release aspect of the drug?? I couldn't get anywhere with her, so finally she says "well, since it seems you are having side effects, I'm assuming you want to go back to the brand name?" I finally just screamed yes.
Luckily, when I switched to the generic, I still had brand name left as a backup, so I started back on 2000mg of Keppra XR brand yesterday. I feel horrid though. I have been having non-stop naseau, panic attacks, ears ringing...I honestly feel a little bit like I'm going crazy. But, I don't know if that's just my body getting re-used to the brand name? Is this common?
Thanks in advance!
I was diagnosed with epilepsy in June of 2010 caused by Grey Matter Heterotopia. I did a few rounds of some meds, then when Keppra XR came out, my doctor gave me samples and I did great on it. Last month, the insurance company told me that with the generic now out, I'd either have to switch, or pay a higher price. At first, I kept the brand, then decided to give the generic a shot.
To say this has been the worst month of my life is an understatement. All I want to do is sleep (and can sleep all day given the opportunity). I'm dizzy most of the time, irritable, no energy...just every hideous feeling imaginable. Now, one interesting thing..the generic med showed dosage as 2 tablets twice a day (my dosage is 2000 a day). On the brand name, it was 4/500mg pills every morning. So, I asked the pharmacist who said it may have been a mistake, and to take four each day. I tried both ways, two and two, then four in one day. Nothing worked, and I kept feeling worse.
Yesterday, I called my neurologist's office. Normally, the people there are nice, but this one woman I've dealt with a few times..she is just nasty on the phone. I asked why when they called in my prescription, they changed the dosing, shouldn't generic be the same? She puts me on hold..comes back, and says that because it's "not the same" the dosage was changed. I was like, how can it NOT be the same? Doesn't that negate the Extended Release aspect of the drug?? I couldn't get anywhere with her, so finally she says "well, since it seems you are having side effects, I'm assuming you want to go back to the brand name?" I finally just screamed yes.
Luckily, when I switched to the generic, I still had brand name left as a backup, so I started back on 2000mg of Keppra XR brand yesterday. I feel horrid though. I have been having non-stop naseau, panic attacks, ears ringing...I honestly feel a little bit like I'm going crazy. But, I don't know if that's just my body getting re-used to the brand name? Is this common?
Thanks in advance!
they listened...