Generics are not the same, like Coke & Pepsi. Same ingredients, different formulation. The exact amount of each ingredient are a closely guarded secret.
My brain knows the difference. Been on Zoloft for 19 years, with trials on Paxil, Sertraline, Prozac,........
I am good on brand name Zoloft and feel like I'm going to die and have terrible anxiety when I take generic Sertraline. There is definitely a difference even though I don't know what it is.
Willow1952
Here's a theory to sleep on. I've been on a generic anti-anxiety drug, Xanax, made by Greenstone (generic arm of Pfizer) since 2000. It was, by far, the best generic Xanax available (up until 2 years ago.) What happened? This generic (called alprazolam) was probably actually the identical name brand Xanax manufactured by Pfizer. Pfizer simply sends the true Xanax formula to Greenstone; Greenstone just puts a generic number on it, so you are really buying and taking the name brand Xanax. A pharmacy manager told me this is a very common practice among big pharma. As of 2 years ago, I find Pfizer's generic Xanax now has NO EFFICACY! Why? My guess: Pfizer has been trying to purchase another pharmaceutical company offshore (Ireland) to save federal taxes Pfizer must pay to the IRS. And Pfizer has been waiting for government approval of this purchase all this time. Pfizer's potential purchase of this drug company (Allergan) is a huge incentive for Pfizer to cut costs and try to make their generic drugs as cheaply as possible (using a new cheap formula, instead of simply passing down the REAL Xanax to Greenstone.) By doing this, Pfizer's income statement shows the largest profits possible on paper to Allergan's board of directors. And if that's the case, there is a higher probablility the Allergan board will approve the sale of their firm to Pfizer.
So if Pfizer has done this to their generic version of Xanax, whose to say they aren't playing the same game with Zoloft and their Greenstone generic, Setraline?
Why did generic drugs come on the scene in the late 70's? (Prior to that there were no such things as generic prescriptions.) Can you say, nursing homes, skyrocketing government medicare costs, skyrocketing hospital costs, VA hospitals, etc? (All subsidized by the government.) Generics are a way to keep government's medical expenditures down, at the expense of the Americans who depend upon 1st line quality name-brand drugs. Do you think anyone on Capitol Hill actually takes generic drugs when the name brand is available?
Here's a theory to sleep on. I've been on a generic anti-anxiety drug, Xanax, made by Greenstone (generic arm of Pfizer) since 2000. It was, by far, the best generic Xanax available (up until 2 years ago.) What happened? This generic (called alprazolam) was probably actually the identical name brand Xanax manufactured by Pfizer. Pfizer simply sends the true Xanax formula to Greenstone; Greenstone just puts a generic number on it, so you are really buying and taking the name brand Xanax. A pharmacy manager told me this is a very common practice among big pharma. As of 2 years ago, I find Pfizer's generic Xanax now has NO EFFICACY! Why? My guess: Pfizer has been trying to purchase another pharmaceutical company offshore (Ireland) to save federal taxes Pfizer must pay to the IRS. And Pfizer has been waiting for government approval of this purchase all this time. Pfizer's potential purchase of this drug company (Allergan) is a huge incentive for Pfizer to cut costs and try to make their generic drugs as cheaply as possible (using a new cheap formula, instead of simply passing down the REAL Xanax to Greenstone.) By doing this, Pfizer's income statement shows the largest profits possible on paper to Allergan's board of directors. And if that's the case, there is a higher probablility the Allergan board will approve the sale of their firm to Pfizer.
So if Pfizer has done this to their generic version of Xanax, whose to say they aren't playing the same game with Zoloft and their Greenstone generic, Setraline?
Why did generic drugs come on the scene in the late 70's? (Prior to that there were no such things as generic prescriptions.) Can you say, nursing homes, skyrocketing government medicare costs, skyrocketing hospital costs, VA hospitals, etc? (All subsidized by the government.) Generics are a way to keep government's medical expenditures down, at the expense of the Americans who depend upon 1st line quality name-brand drugs. Do you think anyone on Capitol Hill actually takes generic drugs when the name brand is available?
There are different "acceptable levels" of the active ingredient in generic medications. Additionally, there are different fillers. Many generics, in this case, sertraline, come from overseas, and have less stringent manufacturing processes than we do in the U.S. If possible, ask your physician do write your prescription as DAW (dispense as written) for zoloft. Hopefully your insurance will cover it. Good luck.
Yes, Zoloft also have some common side effects like insomnia, dizziness, nausea, skin rash, headache, diarrhea, constipation,weight loss etc.
I have experienced dizziness and headache when I started taking Zoloft but later my doctor put me on lower dosage. And its working fine.
PillsforAll
Hi there. How do you feel now being back on regular Zoloft? Please let me know and how long it took for it to work. Thanks!
i am experiencing the same! This is awful. Are you still going through it? Please let me know.
Yet to find out the benefits to me of generic Zoloft. What I read in the last post is the generic isn't the same - sad, but it is what I will try. My prescription insurance may pay (at least most) for a Brand Name if it is established that the generic don't work. I don't see how I get there, I am starting on generic.
We'll will see. Trazadone seems to be causing mental issues, minor but a problem nonetheless.
I didn't scrub to the old posts but got the drift that outside the USA there were defect/problems with the generic. May have gotten that wrong... full speed ahead.
Hi, I have the same exact feeling on sertraline. I have been struggling for about a year now being on sertraline because my insurance would only pay 200 towards a 600 dollar monthly supply! I could not afford that. It got so bad that I considered going on something else but I was afraid of weight gain, the brand name Zoloft worked best for me. I finally went back to dr and asked her to prescribe the brand name Zoloft because there is this company that you can call and for at least a year you may be eligible for a discounted rate. Thank God, I was eligible and my monthly payment is 60 a month for the brand name. I have been back on the Zoloft for 4 days and already feel better....It is not in your head, they effect people differently. Please call your Dr. and find out about the company that is online that offers the discount.
So glad I stumbled across this thread, and just in time! Having similar issues, so this information may be a lifesaver (no exaggeration, as some of you know too well). I often seem to be in that tiny percent of people who are highly sensitive...sigh. Wondering if that's the deal w/ this, too. Zoloft is $50 more monthly than generic ($600 yrly!), but worth it if it improves my quality of life. Hanging on, I will try to report back if I have a significant difference (or not). Best wishes to all who come here, and BIG thanks from Texas.
Totally agree with you. I have exactly the same. Everybody keeps telling me that these 2 medicine s are the same.. But its not true. First I got setraline ranbaxy for one year . I should take akineton at the same time for the very annoying side effects I had. Now I take Zoloft. Now I am OK!!! Finally!! At the hospital said setraline ranbaxy is generic made by second class company . Zoloft are the pure setraline made in Germany.
Hi, another Aussie here (from Brissy) and ao glad I found this post!! I'm so glad (in a bittersweet way) to learn it's not just me!! I've always insisted on true brand Zoloft since I was diagnosed 8 years ago and this forced switch to generics has not sat well with me at all! I'm on 200mg/day and ever since the switch i feel like it's been an endless spiral downwards. I think I feel worse now then even before I started! Hopefully the supply problem will be fixed asap. Im the meantime, love and strength to you all!!
Did you find any in Australia? I am not impressed with the generics at all. I can't get any information on how to contact Pfizer. Can anyone supply that?
I am so glad I took the time to look into this today, I am now in my third week of taking Sertraline as an alternate to Zoloft as none was available (Im from Sydney Australia) and each day that goes by I have been feeling worse and worse. Depressed, no motivation, anxious and also a really bad twitchy eye!?
Thank you all for your comments, its really helped me to understand why I might feel the way I do... Off to find some Zoloft!
I have only just this moment read your post. I hope Pfizer will reply with a positive answer to your email. This issue is extremely important for many people. I can't imagine why Australia can't get supplies when Zoloft is still readily available in other countries. It is mystifying. Hopefully Zoloft will be available again very soon. Best Wishes to you.
Hello, I am in the same situation, I too am in Australia and have not been able to get any Zoloft only the generic brand, it is only after 3 months I have worked out why I am feeling at my worst, I have been on Zoloft for 20 years and I know that the doctors and chemists say that the generic brand is the same but they are not. I have just emailed Pfizer to see when we can get Zoloft back in Australia. I wish us all the best :)
Mate, I just read your post and have no clue if you will ever read this but I just want to tell u that u r not alone! I, 2, feel like im losing my mind....hanging in such a thin ice....but hanging may be the solution mate...maybe we will get better. i wish u the best brother
I am in Australia, and recently there has been a supply problem from Pfizer to Chemists. I have in the past been given a generic brand of Sertraline instead of Zoloft, and it didn't take long for me to find out that taking a generic brand was not for me. The generic brand didn't seem to be effective for me at all, and I definitely felt terrible. Since then I have insisted on Zoloft and would not accept a generic brand which would have cost less. However, last week I was told that many other people have tried Chemists all around the city where I live, and that there are no remaining stocks of Zoloft anywhere. Where to from here I don't know. Apparently Pfizer are unable to supply Zoloft until the end of 2015. I just wonder what is the real reason behind this.
the generics although have the same ingredients - most do - if you google the both of them what difference do you see? Could it be that ones a capsule and ones a tablet? and they would release the medication at a different rate while they were "breaking down" in your system!!! I found that based on the packaging of the generic meds and how its released or delivered into your system depending on the obvious factors, metabolism, weight, health etc, is the difference on how you respond to the med, could just be a slight difference or a noticeable difference, keep that in mind, next time time your doctor wants to keep you on a med your sure is not right for you, keep track of your progress, alot of insurance companies now have to fill your prescription with the generics so if your doctor wants you on a particular med, and you see a pattern with the generic bring it up to him, and get him to request the "real thing" I've been ok with the generic but not always. so good luck and i hope this help someone that may have not have known.
From my research, most sertraline (generic for Zoloft) are not made in the US. This means that the standards and some of the ingredients are not the same, and there is virtually no oversight. There is "Northstar sertraline," which was previously available at Target; "Camber sertraline," available at Target and CVS; "Greenstone sertraline," available at Walgreens, and "Teva sertraline," which is made in Israel--I'm not sure where that is available. I don't know where the others are made, but very likely abroad. A number of people who have written on this subject have complained of significant differences between Zoloft and the various generic sertralines, usually saying that the generics are less potent (which has been my own experience), and at least one person, regarding the "Greenstone sertraline," that it is more potent. In any case, it is not true that sertraline is just Zoloft under another name. Far from it.
Im on setraline since april, i also feel worse than the initial depression, i now have anxiety, headaches. Ill try zoloft
I feel just like u described. I think it's the generic that is making us feel worst than before starting the treatment...:( the one I take is made by Lupin Pharma in India from CVS..and I just started in 25mg a day five days ago :(( I will stop it today... I can feel like this anymore! :((