Is Mylan Lorazepam Discontinued? (Page 8)

My pharmacy told me that they can't buy mylan any more and they do not know if it is discontinued or not. Since Qualitest lorazepam was discontinued, Mylan is the only lorazepam that works (less effective than Qualitest) but works with less side effects than others (Watson, leading pharma, actavis: don't work causing serious side effects). Any alternatives, or another generic lorazepam that works ok? Lorazepam is the only sedative that works for me for anxiety and stiffness due to side effects of levothyroxine. Other medicine such as clonazepam, alprazolam (xanax), cymbalta, zoloft, lexapro, etc do not work.

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REPORT

I found that when Wellbutrin XL was found to be ineffective, it was not discovered by the FDA but by ConsumerLab from consumers contacting them, and they eventually tested Wellbutrin XL and found it wasn't as potent as it should be. The FDA then acted only after that.

There is a form on their site where you can note problems you are having with a generic and they use that to determine which drugs to test:

https:/­/­www.consumerlab.com/­GenericReport.asp

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Re: Jamie (# 29)

Yes, Mylan...is the best brand...with no negative side effects. Why, since Trump took office...has the good meds...gone by the wayside? Obomacare...did not stop good meds.

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Re: ed (# 142)

What is the best alternative to Mylan?

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Re: Blueray (# 143)

So far for me it had been the brand name, which wasn't as good but still OK.

Aurobindo seems to be variable quality, as in some pills seem to have potency and some don't and seemed to cause withdrawal in me (though I will say the first month on it I did not feel that).

I am going to try the Teva/Actavis next (the ones that have the Watson imprint on them but aren't actually Watson).

I might try to get my provider to try to convince my insurance to cover brand again if that doesn't work, but my insurance understandably doesn't want to pay thousands for the brand name. I'm pretty sure they're going to deny it because of the plan I'm on now. It used to be covered.

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Re: Marcus (# 144)

I had to transition from Mylan to Aurobindo for the 0.5mg tablet back in June. I take 0.25 mg three times during the day using the 0.5mg tablets. That transition was fine.

The problem is with the 1mg nighttime dose.
When I tried the Aurobindo once I felt like I took nothing and was in severe withdrawal at 4am. I’ve never felt that bad before. When I went back to Mylan 1mg I was fine.

Should I try a slightly higher dose of Aurobindo at bedtime? Maybe 1.25mg instead of 1? I am really nervous about this.

Mylan has worked so well for me for 6 years.

Any advice is appreciated.

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Re: Blueray (# 145)

That's interesting to hear about the variability in the tablets between the 0.5 and 1 mg tablets. It doesn't surprise based on the employee reviews I've read about batch variations for the Aurolife factory. I as well have been in the worst feeling withdrawal of my life. It has felt to me what people describe going off cold-turkey as being like.

If your 0.5 mg tablets work fine, they couldn't your doctor write it out for the same equivalent amount as the 1 mg tablets? So you would take two 0.5 mg tablets at night.

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Re: Blueray (# 143)

Brand name Ativan if you can find it. Their patient assistance program says they can't get it. The pharmacy the program uses says they're only allow so much a year. I'm not quite sure how that make sense. So they just put their patients in a tailspin out the clear blue sky. That's where I've been. Been stuck on Watson for 3 months in withdrawals and the quality of my life is going downhill. Wished there was something else I could take but I've been on it all.

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Re: Blueray (# 145)

Were you able to get Mylan still? Reason why I've asked is Mylan has been out since last year. Did someone in your area stockpile it? You said you transitioned from it in June. (Mylan)

Also not sure what you're saying about taking 0.25. Are you saying you split the 0.5mgs to get the 0.25? Forgive me if my math is off.

Also not sure how you guys were getting Aurobindo. My understanding was it just hit the market I believe within the last 6 months. I could be off.

But your best bet is if you have private insurance that will pay for brand-name Ativan I'd go that route.

I still feel that we're all feeling drug withdrawals switching from one brand to another.

But again I'd go with the brand name if you have a good insurance policy that will cover it.

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Re: Marcus (# 146)

Trust me Marcus when I say this. If you've never gone cold turkey or through a detox what we're experiencing now isn't even close. I've done both. It's a hell that nobody should be subjected to.

I went a day and a half without anything and it was bad. That was in a psych ward. The environment I was in was unreal. That was one experience.

In the 80's I went into a detox center with the hopes that I could manage without being on anything to control my mental health issues. That was thee biggest mistake I've ever made hands down.

They knew why I was coming in and was treated as a criminal drug addict. I had only been on Xanax for like 3-4 months. Was told coming off Xanax would be like coming off Heroin.

I wasn't told to go in, this was my idea. I didn't want to be dependent on medication. They treated me like I said as a regular drug addict. And most places you go these days will think you're in denial. I was just a young man at that time and was a first-time user of Xanax. As in the first time ever on a benzodiazepine.

The saying, sometimes you're a bug, sometimes you're the windshield. Ugh!

This too shall pass...

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One thing I'm not sure any of you are aware of. But there is a device called Alpha stim. Is similar to a tens device. I've had some breakthrough days using it for panic disorder, depression and PTSD.

I don't think you can post links out here so I won't. Just Google Alpha-stim they have a lot of info on their website. It's a very expensive device but your insurance may cover it. I believe you have to have a prescription for.

Just something I wanted to throw out there at you guys to see if it might be beneficial for you. :)

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Re: Richard (# 138)

Richard did you say that Leading seemed to have been reformulated. I just received a small amount to cover me untill the Watson is back in stock. I tried Leading about a year ago and it just wasn't effective. Still struggling with the Watson. Thought I read a post that you said it was different than what some were getting. When you get a chance could you let me know. Appreciate it.

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I have been taking Leading brand of Ativan due to serious panic attacks. I thought this brand wasn't as effective as what they gave me at the hospital. I had nothing else to compare to. I got drug tested at my Dr's office and it came back negative for benzodiazepines. I just took some yesterday. My doctor is going to send it to a lab and doesn't want to write me anymore scripts because she doesn't think I'm taking my medication now. Leading brand is not effective.

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Re: Becca333 (# 152)

Wow that's a new problem, the bad lorazepam has doctors accusing patients of not taking their medication! How many more ways can we as patients get punched in the face by the healthcare system?!

Becca, sorry to hear you're dealing with this. I would show your doctor this website in hopes they may begin to understand the real problems with these generics.

PS- If possible try to get your doctor to write and get your insurance authorized for the brand name Ativan. Good luck.

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Re: Jibbs55 (# 151)

I have no idea if Leading has been reformulated.......it seemed fine to me until after a few months it just seemed not as strong....i think the old REAL Watson must have still been in my system.......the "Watson" you get today is made and distributed by Actavis which is own by Tavas when they bought out Watson. The real Watson has not been made in about 7 years......when Watson was bought lock, stock, and molds (thats why they still say Watson) by Teva.....but the med itself is not as strong (for me) as the old Watson which i found pretty much the same as the old brand Ativan....which also is now made in India and people have been saying it too is no longer the same....

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Re: Richard (# 153)

Unless it's changed I believe the name brand is currently made in Germany (the one made by Bausch). Although as I'm learning the name brand varies depending on which country you're in and who owns the right to distribute name brand in that country.

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Marcus (# 154) --

I read on the pamphlet that it is made in Germany as well. But are you saying that in each country it's made the formula might be different?

Reason why I've asked is when Valiant took over the company that bought it from Wyeth they turned it into a generic. That company was Biovail in Canada. The only thing Biovail did was change the Wyeth logo to BP which is still on the tablets. They left the numbers on them like 64 for 1mg.

Years ago I spoke to Biovail directly and they reformulated it into a generic. I was on brand name from Wyeth for years. Worked great. But it's never been the same since. Still very effective but not as well as Mylan.

I'm having a hard time getting a pharmacy to buy it so that I can use my insurance. Most have said it's too costly for them to purchase it just for one patient.

I make too much money to get it from the Valiant patient assistant program. Plus I'm reading here that they can't get it for their program since they're only allowed so much from the company a year.

Honestly, I can't see how Valiant is selling much at all with how much it costs. I'd like to think that one paying out cash for it has to be well off if they can afford it.

I'm taking Leading right now and it's not effective at all. Just don't understand how the FDA allows any medication on the market if it doesn't haven't the same amount of the active ingredient.

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Re: Becca333 (# 152)

A regular U/A will not in some cases show that you have Ativan in your system. If I were you I'd contact the independent laboratory. Explain to them your situation. I can't remember the name of the test to find a benzo in your system. But again a regular U/A doesn't always detect benzos in your body.

I'd talk to your primary doctor about ordering the right labs to see if lorazepam is in your body. Sounds like your psychiatrist is looking for an excuse not to write you a script.

If you've been taking any recently it should be in your system. So contact your primary doctor and see if he/she will do the proper test. Hope that helps.

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I have a question for the Medschat staff. By any chance do you ever weigh in on what some of us speak about. As in do you guys have information that backs up many of these generics don't work. I suppose there's legalities that might keep you all from not giving that kind of info. But it would be a blessings to know what we post isn't all in our heads.

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Re: Marcus (# 155)

Ativan is indeed made in Germany by MEDA Manufacturing GmbH Cologne, Germany......if you can get it, by all means, hang onto that source. Ativan is also made in Canada by Pfizer but stays in the country. Only two sources told to me by a pharmacist is available in the USA...one from India and the MEDA available through Valeant Pharmaceuticals North America LLC Bridgewater, NJ but Valeant has recently gotten into hot water also distributing illegal meds....but this is all hearsay among pharmacists so I have no idea how valid it is........its a long way from the old Wyeth ativan as told to me by two friends taking it...and recently both noted their prescription bottles changed to a manufacturer in India yet still carried the big "A" on it and was called 'ativan'........for some reason NJ (where I live) has become a hive for manufacturing or distribution of the generics (Leading, Actavis, Major are 3 I know of).....there may be others..... I'd not be surprised to see some made in China in the future......95%+ of American companies have sold their souls in the name of $.

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Re: Henry (# 153)

Have you had any problems with brand name shortages. I've been told 1mgs is on backorder.

I don't have insurance to cover brand. I was getting it through the patient assistance program. But they've said they are short on all strengths. Apparently their program only allows so much a year and once they're out your up a creek without a paddle.

I'm not sure some of you guys are seeing my post. If by any means I've said anything inappropriate to any of you please accept my apologies. I don't think I have but if so I'm sorry.

I'm in the same boat most of you all are. There are things I'd share in more depth but I'm not sure we can get too personal here.

I've tried to be upfront about my knowledge of lorazepam generics and brand names. Also my personal experiences with it.

Richard thank you for letting me know about the Leading brand not being reformulated. I thought it was you that we talked about that on the other blogs.

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