Northstar Rx (Top voted first)

Has anyone had problems with lamotrigine (generic Lamictal) manufactured by Northstar Rx

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Clonazapam from North star is just a sugar pill.Teva and Accord produce tabs with active ingredients. I am simply shocked this is happening -this is blatant fraud ! Where is our consumer protection agencies . This is huge money ! This is a huge scam! Down with North star.

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My pharmacy switched their clonazepam provider to Northstar last month. I've had strong to severe withdrawal symptoms starting two days into this batch. I have no option but to continue to take it. Symptoms include fluelike symptioms, muscle aches, depression, chills and sweats, nausea, loss of appetite. My body feels like it's being poisened. Their website says they are in Tennessee (not India)? I met w/my doctor this week in tears. I am 70 years old and have been on 1mg of c. for several years.

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Re: Joanie (# 49)

No, it's not about perception. Read up on the fda, how drugs are big business, poorly regulated and what actually gets sold to us as "generics" in terms of their questionable bio-pharmaceutical equivalency. The vast majority is produced in 3rd world s***holes.

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Northstar generic Ambien doesn't work. Both me and my girlfriend got RX from Publix Pharmacy branded Northstar. 10 mg didn't make us drowsy like other generic brands. Ask your doctor and pharmacy to not use this brand because it's not effective.

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I was just switched from North star (which I did well on for years), to zydus (a company in India) at the beginning of May. This past week I broke into a rash which sent me to the er. I thought it was an allergic reaction, but realized since the switch I began withdrawal like symptoms. I thought I caught a flu --but gastro problems persisted though I'm down to a bland diet. I've become increasingly anxious, panicky, had crying jags. I've been nauseated, dizzy, having a sensation of a brain freezes and my hair started falling out in globs. Suddenly, I've taken a swing toward the manic side with euphoria i haven't had in years-- sleeplessness, agitation yet lethargic and when I do dose, my ptsd recurring nightmares came back full force. The manic scared me to the er, my psychiatrist sent me there for the rash. I've worked so hard through hospitalizations, therapy, ECT treatments. I'm so angry that a bottle of pills from some third world s***hole can throw my life into such chaos. I cant trust these companies and have had issues before, but not this serious. I have never been on brand name lamictal but am hoping to have that option. I'll pay out of pocket. I'm already in debt anyhow. I'm going to die owing somebody something. If this is what life is now, I'll die sooner. At times that idea has been ok too.

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Is there any way to hold Northstar accountable for putting out what are obviously ineffective drugs that cause harm physically, mentally, and financially?

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Re: Austinkid (# 66)

Chewing the med makes it work faster. Never take the TEVA generic!!!! I got chest pains and suicidal thoughts. I was taken to the ER because of this brand. It could kill you!!! I have always taken Northstar. It works best!

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I have been taking the Taro Lamictal for just over a year now for my epilepsy, I was switched to this from Keppra because of Keppra's terrible side-effects. I had a refill that had both the Taro and Northstar in it, I didn't really think anything of it, I started taking the Northstar and within that same week of taking it I has another seizure. My doctor has now put on my script that I can only have Taro, unfortunately my pharmacy isn't carrying the Taro anymore. I don't know what Im going to do, Im having a really hard time finding it. But Im glad I'm not the only one that has had problems with Northstar. My neurologist explained to me that in order for it to be approved by the FDA as a generic that only like 20% of people need to have it work for them..The Northstar made me feel terrible. Im worried if I can't find the Taro what I'm going to do.

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I am so glad I found this page. I thought I was going crazy or something. Northstar is like taking a placebo. I get no relief from my pain with this brand. Oh my, I'm not insane!! Now I have a 3 month supply of an RX I just picked up, how do I exchange it for another manufactuer?

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For three days I've been taking Northstar RX LL's valacyclovir (generic for brand name Valtrex) from Costco's Pharmacy, dosing 1000mg every 8 hours for a herpetic outbreak on my mouth (standard dosage is 500 mg twice daily). I have never had such a bad outbreak that has continued to evolve and worsen even while on "medication." I believe this product to be a counterfeit.
The New York Times, February 14, 2012 (I think that was the year) published an article on bogus drugs, citing the results of a study which concluded that 13% of the generics forced on Americans by their third party payers (government and private insurers) are fake. I wonder what percentage of drugs are now coming from third world countries like India?
Examine even the over-the-counter drugs and often you'll only find a drug company's name and no indication as to the country where that company contracted to have the drug was actually made.
I think this is a dangerous trend. A person should have the right to know where a drug is being manufactured, and the right to choose alternatives generics or the proprietary drug.
So much media attention is given to GMO foods but I can't recall the same being paid to the drugs we put in our bodies.

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Yay! Finally found people who have had problems with North Star. I take it for generalized epilepsy, and I started to experience myoclonic jerks, increasing in intensity and frequency throughout the few months I was taking it. I've been taking generics for years, with no problems and I've temporarily switched to brand name ... and the jerks went away. So glad to know that one generic brand can be so different from the rest - I've just been lumping them all together.

Has anyone had a problem with myoclonic jerks after switching generics?? I am trying to figure out whether North Star has more or less of lamotrigine than others. I'm inclined to think it has MORE just because I haven't had a seizure, and Lamotrigine has been found to increase myoclonic jerks... and I can't imagine that any fillers would be a trigger.

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Now I get my Doctor to write the prescription "Dispense as written" and then to specify TARO BRAND which is the generic Lamotrigine that I haven't reacted badly to. The side effects I have had from others - especially North Star - have been horrible. Having my Doctor specify a manufacturer to the pharmacy has worked well for me. Lots of pharmacies carry particular manufacturers for certain drugs because they are getting the best price from that one, and otherwise cant or won't special order.

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I use my neighborhood pharmacy for all meds, but they only carry Northstar Lamotrigine. I have to go to a pharmacy an hour away to get the Taro brand. Driving 2 hours is worth the trip, though, to have the medication that works best and doesn't have any horrible side effects, and they always keep it in stock, as well as other brands.

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I just got switched to a Northstar generic, on one I have been taking for years. I have had various generic company's in the past for this RX but this is the first time with Northstar.
At first it was It was like taking nothing, I just figured perhaps I was in more pain that usual so the effect wasn't as good. But it continued to happen, and then my hands, feet, ankles and intestines started to swell. (mind you, I never even had swollen ankles with any of my five pregnancies) I then started to get really, really sick, nauseous a little, but itching in my legs and arms. I thought I would lose my mind. It took me a few days before I was able to narrow it down to the Northstar generic. It was so bad I wish it would have just finished me off. I took mega benedryl yesterday and it started to recind, so just for assurance, i took a half a tablet today and sure enough, here comes the sick, the itching, everything. Again, the benedryl and the holding on for my crappy life. My life sucks bad enough I don't need any help from an outside source.

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Northstar's lamotrigine was entirely ineffective and quite terrible for me. I've been taking lamotrigine for bipolar disorder for roughly seven years. I initially took the name brand lamictal but switched to TEVA after a couple of months (insurance). TEVA's lamotrigine has been amazing for me. It actually stablizes my moods and helps me feel stable, happy, and normal. I normally fill my prescriptions at Walgreen's but I switched to Target's pharmacy earlier this week. Well, Target only carries Northstar. I started the Northstar pills unaware that there could be an actual difference between generics. Unfortunately, there was a HUGE difference. It felt like I wasn't taking anything. I feel depressed, cranky, abnormally lethargic, and hopeless. This was horrible. I work hard to stay balanced and Northstar threw me off. Luckily, I realized that my depression was connected to the switch in generics. I called Walgreen's and explained the situation. They refilled my prescription with TEVA and now I'm back to normal.

Northstar is pretty scary imo. It's horrible to do what we're supposed to do (take meds) and have our efforts undermined by an ineffective manufacturer. There should be infinitely more accountability for these generic manufactures. I hope everyone reports their issues to the FDA and maybe they'll do something.

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I took Northstar Ambien for three days.
Within a half hour I had swelling and itching if my eyes. Thought I was getting pink eye or allergy to Shellfish, which I had earlier in the day. I had three previous nights of terrible sleep. I am relieved I found this post. The Publix Pharmacy will only carry Northstar as of May this year. No choices on the generic brand. I found Walgreens carries Teva, which does work for me. Too bad Publix is now being ruled by the Pharmacutical Companies, rather then customer needs. When I asked if other's had any problem with this brand, of course I was told absolutely not!! Shame on you for not being honest!!!

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Yes, I did. My pharmacy suddenly switched to Northstar lamotrigine and soon afterwards, I suddenly began to have auras. The amount of lamotrigine I take isn't cheap. My pharmacy wouldn't order the former generic brand I was on. My insurance only covers the cost at one pharmacy chain. I called around and found a pharmacy that dispenses one of the better rated generic forms of lamotrigine (I did research on the web.) Using a printable coupon like medchat offers, I'm able to afford this better generic at a slightly higher price that my co-pay covered by my insurance.

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What generic brand are you using? I need to experiment bc North Star changed their recipe and I'm not well. Thanks

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Yes, I have been on the Taro generic, which worked well. My local pharmacy's supplier switched to the NorthStar generic, which I got three weeks ago. The longer I take the NorthStar, the worse I am - muscle stiffness, feeling like my mind is flying apart, and horrible, horrible hunger attacks. I take it for bipolar, along with Lexapro and Topamax and was doing great, until this NorthStar junk. Now I feel like I'm back at the beginning. It's terrible!!!

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There can be differences in generic medications. Under federal law, they are allowed to differ in the amount of the active ingredient, by as much as plus or minus 20%.

This is considered to be an acceptable therapeutic window and, for most people, it is and doesn't cause problems. However, when you have been taking something for a long period of time, or are sensitive to any fluctuation in your medication, it can cause problems, because you may not be getting as much of the active ingredient that you were, or in some cases you may be getting more.

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Lamotrigine/­

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Losartan/­

In most cases, your body will adjust, in a few weeks, however, if it is causing you severe problems, you might want to see if your pharmacy can order in the one manufactured by the other company.

Are there any other questions or comments?

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