Teva Announces Launch of Generic Zoloft

[Rae]

Ellen wrote:

I was on zoloft in 2002. Two weeks ago my dr proscribed zoloft again. This time i began on a generic. I've been unable to sleep and sick to my stomach for the last two weeks. For that reason i haven't upped my dosage past the intro half pill dosage. I didn't have this problem with the name brand drug. Realizing that this might be an issue after being told that the generics were the same, i searched the internet and found this site. Insomnia, heart burn, nausea and feeling like i'm on amphetamines are not side effects that i can ignore. The generic drugs have made me feel better. But not sleeping is an impossible price to pay for a better mood.

Good luck Ellen with whatever you decide to do and I hope your doctor listens to what you have to say on the matter. I will write a message after a couple of weeks of being back on Zoloft, to say how I am doing.

[From Florida]

I can't believe it! I switched about 2 months ago and have regressed tremendously. I have had no depression for three years on Zoloft and more importantly, no panic attacks. Well, that has all changed and I didn't make the connection until yesturday. I am glad I looked it up! What a bummer. I can't wait to get the regular tomorrow.

[ROBERTA]

Do you think all the generic zolofts are equally prolematic? or are some better or worse than others? My daughter had difficulty with the Teva
generic zoloft. She seems to be doing better with Greenstone, but still is having some heart palpitations and shortness of breath. Has anyone had palpitations and shortness of breath with Greenstone? Thanks for any help you can give us.

[Dave]

I'd like to see what percentage of Zoloft patients that were given generics experienced problems w/ the generics.

I tried generics for a month and a half and they really didn't work -- mood swings, feeling like I was having Zoloft-withdrawal, etc. So, I requested that my dr prescribe name brand Zoloft.

I am now paying the cost for the generics' ineffectiveness -- my copays for the name brand are 2-1/2 times what they were for the generics.

How is that fair?

[Keith]

I am so happy I found this site. I had been on Zoloft for about 8 years and then my insurance plan mailed me the sertraline, the generic for Zoloft.I have been questioning my generics for the last 8 months (wondering if I'm going crazy???) because I have become agitated easily, my anxiety and panic attacks returned, and my heart palipatations are back too. My quality of sleep is terrible and now I can attribute it to the generic sertraline. My generics are by Greenstone. I will have to go back on brand name Zoloft and pay 5x more than the generic ....what a shame that the FDA approves of these generics without having any head to head studies comparing these different generics and zoloft....or even to see if these generics are absorbed the same way, have the same bio-availability or steady state. If anyone finds any studies of generic vs. name brand zoloft, I would be grateful if you could forward that info.

[Blondewiz]

I'm so glad I read this post. I was on Zoloft for 2 years before switching to the generic about four months ago. I've declined as well and went to see my doctor a month ago about dizziness, agitation and episodes of "buzzing" in my head. I never even thought it might be related to the switch from Zoloft to generic. I'm going to switch back and see if that clears things up!

[ukulele]

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[Melissa]

I'm so glad I found this - my mother has regressed since being swithced to generic Zoloft. She doesn't have the will to fight for the switch back herself - can anyone who has successfully fought their insurance company for the regular zoloft tell me how they won? Thank you so much!!!

[Bob]

Be it psychological or not I noticed definite changes within the week of taking the generic. I got irritable, slightly depressed. The pharmacist wouldn't re-fill me with zoloft so I had no choice but to wait a few weeks and take the generic. I think that with different inactive ingredients it is possible that it dissolves differently and may have different effects for some people.

[Janc]

vesta wrote:

The generic drug contains the same active ingredients as its brand name. THe only difference is the inactive ingredients. This has been tested and proved by the FDA. Theres nothing wrong with sertraline it's all psycological.

I totally disagree. I am a Psychiatric RN who had been taking Zoloft. Through the VA I was switched to a pink generic sertraline. With in 48 hours I experienced withdrawal symptoms. I tried to slowly do the change over (ie 150 Zoloft, 50 Sertraline for 1 week, 100 of each for 1 week, etc) and got progressively more depressed. Went back on Zoloft and returned back to normal within 2 weeks. Then tried a different generic (from outside the VA) and have done fine thus far. It's NOT just psychological. And not ALL generics are the same.

[Deb]

Melissa wrote:

I'm so glad I found this - my mother has regressed since being swithced to generic Zoloft. She doesn't have the will to fight for the switch back herself - can anyone who has successfully fought their insurance company for the regular zoloft tell me how they won? Thank you so much!!!

Melissa, there shouldn't be any fight, just ask her dr. to write the prescription saying it is medically necessary for her to take the real Zoloft and the insurance should most likely honor that. You do have to have a letter or something from the Dr. to do this. They tried to make me take the generic but once I called the Dr. they wrote another prescription and wrote that I required the real stuff and that was that. Good Luck, Deb

[Amanda]

I also switched to the generic about two months ago and I have felt the difference. Trouble sleeping, depression is back, etc. My pharmacy wants to charge me more for the regular brand and I'm about ready to pay even though I really can't afford it. I don't think it is right to make people switch to generic when they've been using zoloft for years.

[Steve]

Linda wrote:

<quoted text>
i disagree I have gone completely backward recently when switching to generic Zoloft and didn't even realize thzt was the case till my doc asked me alot of questions and we figured it out. Generics are not always the same

So you really believe that the you and the doctor have countered all the reviews by the FDA that affirmed the equivalence of the generic to the brand? 35% of a drug's effectiveness is psychological and I'm guessing that the simply the act of someone substituting your med cause 35% doubt.

[Rydal Rez]

As I sit here with heart palpitations, trying desperatly not to freak out and have to go to the ER for this anxiety crap, I am reading this forum. I typed in generic zoloft and found it. I can't remember when I was switched to the generic but it had to be either late last year or earlier this year, at first I questioned it as it was a mail order, they said they just came out with it and that's what my insurance company said I had to take. To be honest, I really forgot all about it. Now looking back, I remember lots of other issues starting around March of this year. I'm defintely not the same as when I was on the Zoloft and have been noticing this gradually. I actually started drinking more to try and calm myself. During our annual benefits meeting someone brought up the question of how Walmart can offer drugs for $4, Medco responded back that 1)they buy in bulk and 2)use all generic, which they said was not the same as brand names.
It dawned on me that this could be what it is that has gotten me anxious again, letting things get to me and being irritable. My Dr's office is open 7 days, I plan to be there tomorrow, to at least, get an intermittent fix, such as valium or along those lines, I can't handle the heart palps. Thank god I found this site, there is hope in sight.

[CARRI AKA BROOKE SHIELDS]

Steve wrote:

<quoted text>
So you really believe that the you and the doctor have countered all the reviews by the FDA that affirmed the equivalence of the generic to the brand? 35% of a drug's effectiveness is psychological and I'm guessing that the simply the act of someone substituting your med cause 35% doubt.

STEVE AKA 'TOM CRUISE',

I suggest you go back and read some of the posts. Most people didn't realize they had been switched to the generic until they noticed withdrawal symptoms or pre-Zoloft problems. And then there are people such as myself, that were very excited about it going generic so we didn't have to pay such a high copay. I have also taken other generic drugs with no problems so I assumed the generic version of Zoloft would produce the same results as brand name Zoloft. Unfortunately for me this has not been the case and based on the hundreds of people who have posted to this site, I'm not alone. Unless you have personally experienced a situation such as this I don't believe you have any business telling us it's 35% psychological.

Sincerely,

CARRI AKA BROOKE SHIELDS

[bulldog707]

CARRI AKA BROOKE SHIELDS wrote:

<quoted text>
STEVE AKA 'TOM CRUISE',
I suggest you go back and read some of the posts. Most people didn't realize they had been switched to the generic until they noticed withdrawal symptoms or pre-Zoloft problems. And then there are people such as myself, that were very excited about it going generic so we didn't have to pay such a high copay. I have also taken other generic drugs with no problems so I assumed the generic version of Zoloft would produce the same results as brand name Zoloft. Unfortunately for me this has not been the case and based on the hundreds of people who have posted to this site, I'm not alone. Unless you have personally experienced a situation such as this I don't believe you have any business telling us it's 35% psychological.
Sincerely,
CARRI AKA BROOKE SHIELDS

Oh, I see. So, these people, including yourself, didn't know that they were taking a generic, even though the tablets don't look the same. They felt different and went back to look at their meds (likely more than one) and said, "Wow, it's different." Remarkable.

[Deb]

I think this site should be used to help each other get thru this generic nightmare. Whats the old saying... if you don't have something nice to say.. don't say anything at all!! People, including myself, ARE having adverse reactions to the generic. Zoloft has been a lifesaver for most of us with no complaints. Then you are given the generic, expecting to have the same results and you are happy to save money, but then the problems begin. I'm sure I can speak for most of us that we would give anything to be able to pay the generic price and have great results!! DUH!! The generic is not worth the low cost, its not worth it to your quality of life. Deb

[Rydal Rez]

Went to my Dr's office today, luckily they have Sunday walk in appts. I was able to get a script for the Brand Name again...and in the meantime was given a low dose Lorazepam. She has also had other complaints about this issue. I also called MedCo and they said as long as they wrote dispense as written, no generic, I will get the Brand Name. Thank goodness I found all of this out. Thanks to all the posts and wishing everyone well.

[alaura42]

Hello,
Neither of my children do well on the generic. Their condition deteriates rapidly. I, too, have noticed horrible mood swings, tearfulness etc....
I have to say to the Vesta responder...generic brands do have the same active ingrediant HOWEVER generic drugs ARE NOT under the same restrictions as the brand name drug. Brand name drugs must have the required amount of the active ingrediant while generics are allowed to have a range. My doctor explained this to me...and she will not allow generic on some drugs because of this...predictably heart medications. The government and drug companies as well as the INSURANCE companies are selling us a line of bunk and our health is suffering. I take umbrage at the insinuation that "these side effects" are psychological. I know my body and I see it in my kids....we slowly go downhill on the generic Zoloft.

[bulldog707]

alaura42 wrote:

Hello,
Neither of my children do well on the generic. Their condition deteriates rapidly. I, too, have noticed horrible mood swings, tearfulness etc....
I have to say to the Vesta responder...generic brands do have the same active ingrediant HOWEVER generic drugs ARE NOT under the same restrictions as the brand name drug. Brand name drugs must have the required amount of the active ingrediant while generics are allowed to have a range. My doctor explained this to me...and she will not allow generic on some drugs because of this...predictably heart medications. The government and drug companies as well as the INSURANCE companies are selling us a line of bunk and our health is suffering. I take umbrage at the insinuation that "these side effects" are psychological. I know my body and I see it in my kids....we slowly go downhill on the generic Zoloft.

Your doctor failed to mention that the brand drug is also manufactured within a "range". Generics do have to meet equivalency tests. There are thousands of generic drugs doing the same work as their brand counterparts. There are much more serious illnesses and the generics that treat these conditions would be life threatening if they were as inferior as you think. Depression/anxiety symptoms are highly subjective, which means that your mood can be swayed by a sunny-vs-cloudy.

Essentially, I enjoy reading about so many that want the brand only. How funny it is to see so many people throw their money away. And, if you're fortunate to have insurance that pays for the brand, too, then you'll soon enjoy another adjustment in your benefit costs.