generic imitrex.... myth or fact?

[JLM]

Generic imitrex is now available.

[Sue Dayton OH]

Denny wrote:

Please everyone go back up to post number 67 from Judy in Dayton OH. I opened an account with Asset Chemical but have not ordered yet. I am going to do that next. I would recommend everyone to go back and at least read Judy's Post #67. Sept 2008.

I have ordered from Asset Chemical and Judy's correct. It does work, it is cheaper and nobody tells you how many pills you can order at one time. It's a win win situation. I was hesitant but have tried them and from what I have been reading about the generic of Imitrex I encourage people to order from Asset Chemical and give it a try.

[Denny]

I have tried the Generic form of Imitrex about 4 times now. I have to agree with those of you that say it is only marginally as effective as the original. I just took it about 2 hours ago and it is like I took two asprin. Very sad.

[richard]

generic imitrex is made in singapore and i suspect counterfeiting due to no relief after multiple migraines treated with injection and tablets i filed a rpt with fda and encourage others to same if having no results

[Squirrly]

I was just wondering if anyone has ever heard this

I have insurance from the state so they only cover the generic version. I got a brand new card for January and went to get my prescription but was told my insurance was terminated. Then after arguing for a bit that it definately wasn't I was told -

"We don't have the generic form of Imitrex because the manufacturer stopped making it and we don't know when they're making it again"

but they were completely willing to give me Topamax which was also prescribed.

I was just wondering- does anyone think they turned me down because of my insurance? I read here the patent doesn't end until feb '09 which is when the price goes down. I'm wondering now if she'd be willing to fill it for me in february. Not that I'm ever going back, but I'm trying to believe I wasn't just turned down because they might take a cut in profit.

[Denny]

Hi Squirrly in Portland OR. I live in Beaverton and have insurance through Kaiser. I asked them about supstituting the Dr Reddy generic but they did not elect to do that. Dr Reddy, (the first Imitrex generic to show up in the US is apparently from India. I think there is another one coming also. Many people are saying the Dr Reddy generic is not effective as the originaly. This is my experience also. I think the whole generic situation with Imitrex is unstable. Need to give it time to sort out. I still think people should consider reading Post 67 from Judy in Dayton Ohio and give Asset Chemical in England a try. Everyone posting here that has tried them has given them good reviews. Sorry I was unable to answer your question more accuratly. I do not think the insurance companies are entire on board with the Dr Reddy version yet. I simply do not think it is a completely effective. And only a little bit cheaper.

[Jbaker]

I don't think it is related to your insurance. I have United Healthcare and the same thing happened. I got the Dr. Reddy generic one time from Safeway in December. I tried to get it again in January and Safeway said they were unable to get it. I just called them today and they still can't get it.

Squirrly wrote:

I was just wondering if anyone has ever heard this
I have insurance from the state so they only cover the generic version. I got a brand new card for January and went to get my prescription but was told my insurance was terminated. Then after arguing for a bit that it definately wasn't I was told -
"We don't have the generic form of Imitrex because the manufacturer stopped making it and we don't know when they're making it again"
but they were completely willing to give me Topamax which was also prescribed.
I was just wondering- does anyone think they turned me down because of my insurance? I read here the patent doesn't end until feb '09 which is when the price goes down. I'm wondering now if she'd be willing to fill it for me in february. Not that I'm ever going back, but I'm trying to believe I wasn't just turned down because they might take a cut in profit.

[PDMoran]

Haven’t heard about generic Imitrex being pulled, but in January when I had my Imitrx refilled I received Dr Reddy’s instead of the usual GSK. Yesterday, I received a new 3 month supply of 100mg generic Imitrex. However, no longer Dr Reddy's but almost a no-name brand – TEVA Pharmaceuticals in Israel and manufactured for TEVA Pharmaceuticals in Sellersville, PA. I live in PA, so that may have something to do with the source change, don't know. I haven't had the need to take one yet. They are shaped differently also. Look similar to 50mg Imigren from Europe, oblong, not triangular and similarly pink in color to the 100mg GSK.

[Omni]

GlaxoSmithKline
[e-mail]

I suggest bombard GSK with email feedback about the ineffectiveness of Dr. Reddy’s sumatriptan.

I concur with the majority of previous feedbacks — Dr. Reddy’s generic sumpatriptan does not work any where near as well as brand Imitrex. I think GSK needs to know this. Forget calling them. I tried 3 times, chose the “Consumer Complaint” choice from the many choices, and each time, I got a recording saying we must have a poor connection, please call back another time, good-bye. On the 4th call, I chose “agent” instead, and was given the above email address. If you go to GSK website, you will not find an address, therefore, email is better than nothing.
 

[Andy_5000]

If you guys are paying too much for Imitrex, you should use this coupon.

A ton off of your next prescription!

http://www.yourrxcoupons.com/coupons/Imitrex....

[Gordon]

I've used Dr. Reddy's three times now and find it similar to the brand name I used to get. I only pay $10 for 18 pills. But 18 does not hold me a month. I still go to mexico and buy their Imitrex, $7 for 8 pills and I can buy as much as I want.

[Gordon]

WOW...after reading some of these replies, you people really need to find someone that lives close to mexico and have them get your meds from there. I don't know what I would do with just 18 pills a month...

[Ingridshita]

yesterday I take the generic version of imitrex,and does not work,this medicine is a waste of time,this Dr Reddys brand is not help me nothing,I usually tablet of 25 mg made me feel better,and I took three and nothing happen,dont take this medicine please,use the original,Imitrex is the only one.

[Candace]

I took some Dr.Reddy from a pharmacy in another state several times and it did nothing. I can always tell when I take real sumatriptan by certain symptoms that occur as it starts to work. Then I took Dr. Reddy from my home state pharmacy and it worked just like Imitrex. I think both those who say it works and those who say it doesn't work are right---it depends on which pharmacy you get it at and where their wholesaler gets it. In the case of such an expensive drug, there is probably counterfeiting going on somewhere. Everyone who gets a Dr. Reddy prescripion that doesn't work should report it to the pharmacist, even though he will likely not give you your money back and give you the lecture about how generics are always equal to the name brand.

[Sally Sullivan]

While Imitrex is a wonderful drug, people should be very careful about taking too much of it. Why? Rebound headaches, where your body becomes dependent upon it. When this happens, if you stop taking it, you will get an awful headache. A similar condition happens when a habitual coffee drinker misses his "fix" one morning and gets a nasty headache by noon.

I would never take Imitrex more than 2 or 3 days in a row, 9 doses a month is not such a bad limitation. If someone presently is caught is a rebound headache trap, one less painful method of getting out (instead of stopping all analgesics) is to take Frova (a long-acting triptan) for 3 days and then over-the-counter Aleve. I learned this method from the Michigan Head-Pain and Neurigical Institute in Ann Arbor.

[greg]

I just received my order of 10 cards of 6 ea 100mg generic sumatriptan from Asset Chemist. The total was around $85, which includes shipping. I received it in two weeks. The manufacturer is Dr. Reddy, and it is apparently produced in England.

Now I've heard lots of complaints about Dr. Reddy's sumatriptan, but I've taken one dose so far and the migraine faded away starting 45 minutes after I took it and at an hour and a half it was all gone. Along with the pain relief I felt the subtle side effecs I've always felt with Imitrex. So it seems good to me!

This is the second time I've ordered the generic sumatriptan from Asset Chemist. The first time was a little over a year ago. It was some other manufacturer, made in Poland. That worked fine too.

This pharmacy is a godsend. Especially seeing as generic sumatriptan is $180/9 pills at Rite Aid.

[wallofchaos]

Janie wrote:

Gosh, I agree!!!!!! i just went to the doc today and she gave me SIX nasal spray prescription--and it was $30.00, that is FIVE DOLLARS a pill!!! I cant afford this but Imitrex is the only thing that will relieve my migraine. I heard that prescriptions have a patent of TWENTY YRs, i dunno-- imitrex has been on the market for 10 yrs already- i think..I hope it comes in generic soooon

FIVE $ A PILL????? Consider yourself EXTREMELY lucky. its 17$ a pill here. I'de be in heaven if it were so cheap here. I don't even have income and i'de still find a way to pay 5$ a pill. I suffer from on average 3 migraines a week.
I cant believe your upset for 5$. Its not a daily medication. Your not even supposed to take more than 3 times a week. For a drug that works amazing miracles, this is well worth it.

How about I pay you paypal and you send me 20 of em.:)

[Migraine Sufferer]

wallofchaos wrote:

<quoted text>
FIVE $ A PILL????? Consider yourself EXTREMELY lucky. its 17$ a pill here. I'de be in heaven if it were so cheap here. I don't even have income and i'de still find a way to pay 5$ a pill. I suffer from on average 3 migraines a week.
I cant believe your upset for 5$. Its not a daily medication. Your not even supposed to take more than 3 times a week. For a drug that works amazing miracles, this is well worth it.
How about I pay you paypal and you send me 20 of em.:)

There is a generic by Dr. Reddy's but it does not work as well as Imitrex. I normally cut a 100 mg in half as 50 mg works GREAT!! But with the generic I have to end up taking the whole 100 mg to work. Then I feel so tired and out of it. I never had a single reaction to Imitrex but the generic sucks. As many migraines as I get I use all 18 halved pills in 45 days. I know Imitrex is expensive, but it works.