Generic brand symptoms and conditions

I am extremely sensitive to medications. That being said, even though my thyroid levels were normal, my doctor believed I had hypothyroidism. He put me on .25 mcg of the generic brand of synthroid. I could only take it for 5 days because during that time I developed feelings of "dread" and I was afraid to go to sleep at night. When I stopped the pills, I started to feel better but I believe the stuff was still in my system. Some stressful things happened right after, and it threw me into panic attacks with scary, racing thoughts, trembling, insomnia, etc. I'm slowly getting better. But after reading this, I feel even better now knowing that I'm not losing it and chances are great that it's the synthroid that's causing it.

A friend of mine directed me to here. After reading all of the side effects I realized that a lot of what is going on with me is these bc pills. I knew that the cramping and bleeding was from the pills but I didn't realize that my spaciness and inability to focus has been the pills. I have been noticing at work that my employer tells me one thing and i do the opposite and I can't figure out why I am not on top of it like I usually am. My heart feels like it is beating faster and I find that I am anxious and always starving and having to eat a lot, which is not like me. Slight headaches too and slight muscle pain - can these all be from this pill?

I used to take Seasonale but my dr recommended this one because it is the generic brand that is way cheaper. But I never had the side effects from seasonal that I am having now. I just thought these side effects were just me but now I know it is the pill. I am definitely quitting these and get Seasonale again. This is crazy, these side effects!

I feel sorry for women who can't switch because they can't afford the more expensive one and they weigh the side effects against having horrible periods, moodiness...etc.It all depends on which side effects are worse, the pill or their monthly period.

We trust that our best interest is at heart, but it isn't. I can tell you one thing, if a man was the one who got pregnant, the pill would be perfected with very little side effects if any.

Wow. I am in awe. I lost my mother June 7, 2009. I plunged into severe depression. I was already on Paxil. I started the generic brand of Wellbutrin (Bupropion) around June 30th. I noticed a big difference neurologically. But on to why I am posting... I noticed last week my hands were shaking uncontrollably and I could not stop them. I ran out of Wellbutrin and waited a couple of days to pick it up. I noticed a lot of the symptoms stopped. I have also had off the chart vertigo. I am talking extreme. I had tremors this morning and thought something was under the pillows on my sofa and jumped up to look. I then wondered if I was going crazy. I then went to my desk to work and crossed my legs on top the desk and the tremors started again.

I had thick bit fat hair naturally curly hair (which I still have most of it) . I started seeing hair everywhere in the car seat, the desk chair, on the sofa, the floor blah blah. Everywhere! If pulled on the end to check for split ends and the freaking hair came out. I notice last night that I could see through the temples of my hair and freaked out. So now what? Am I going to have to have a Donald Trump comb over. Seriously I had enough hair on my head for two people. You know how people buy really bad wigs that have way too my hair on them. They are long bushy and you know they aren't real? Yeah well that's my natural hair. So when I looked last night and saw what I saw - I totally freaked. The tremors this morning did it along with the postings here. I just flushed my entire bottle. I had only taken 3 out of it. I'm over it. I like my too big nappy natural hair. I'm going to do everything I can to get it back. My dermatologist friend told me to go to Costco and buy Men's Rogaine gel form (I'm a chick). Can I just say I'm about to put my little dog in my purse and we are off to Costco. This is really, really, really the suck. So here are the choices; do you want to be sane and bald? Or do you want to be semi-crazy and shake like a junkie? I say screw it. Hey, I have cold turkied off Ambien before (it took 14 days but do not try this at home!). I'm done with Wellbutrin. No guts, no glory.

Not even 2 months ago, I went to pick up prescription for Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo, and the co pay was raised by $30. So I decided to try to generic brand, Tri-Sprintec. Within a week of being on it, I felt like I have gained weight, mainly in my chest area and feeling extremely bloated. I thought that I would give it two months, but now I can zip up my dresses over my chest, and I'm already a 36D! The rest of my body has not put weight on....just my chest within a month! I'm going back to Ortho-Lo at end of the month, I do not recommend this generic brand, and I feel that its worth it to spend an extra $30 a month to feel right!

How is everyone having such bad effects if it just came out 2 weeks ago? i always take ortho lo and they just handed me this new pill....im really concerned...

I switched from the small round white generic Wellbutrin to the large round yellow Wellbutrin 2 weeks ago. Not to my agreement, I just picked it up at the pharmacy and there it was. Anyway, today I went to the doctors for a rash and she told me that different manufacturers have different fillers in the pills, so I could be allergic to one of the components. I took my new Wellbutrin back to the pharmacy and the pharmacist gave me my old generic brand. The rash was on my stomach, the hips, my back...and it appeared Sunday night. Just a story in case anyone is experiencing something similar. If this doesn't make my rash go away, I will report back to let you know it in fact wasn't the change.
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pic of the different pills.

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pic of my rash

Hello:
I'm 27 and have been taking Omeprazole since I was 20. The doctor started me me off with Protonix 40mg once daily which was later replaced with a generic brand and the dosage distribution to 20mg in the morning and 20mg in the evening. Recently (July 2009) I have been experiencing for the first time palpitations and pressure in that region. Very discomforting and a little scary especially being 27 and healthy. I had a thorough physical done about 4 months which yielded normal results. At least I am comforted by the fact that this is pervasive throughout other Omeprazole users. I will explore this further and share any new discoveries I make.

I have been on generic Wellbutrin for almost two weeks and have not gotten a rash but have noticed that my anxiety has gone up, especially at night. I already have anxiety about not sleeping and normally will take benadryl or lunesta to help that. I also feel like I have this surge of anger, that I am not sure where it came from. Has anyone else had this? I talked to my doctor yesterday and he said to follow up on Friday and see. I am switching from lexapro to wellbutrin because of massive weight gain and to help me quit smoking. Any advice would be grateful, I can deal with it if I know its going to pass shortly!!

I have been on the generic brand, Apri for 4 months. HELL!!!!! I am depressed, mood swings like crazy, ZERO sex drive (can't even get wet), losing hair, headaches constantly, acne......it has been awful. I had two active pills left and i had already decided to stop after this month, I couldn't force myself to take another pill. I would NOT recommend this pill, especially if you are researching it because you feel strange on it. I have lost all energy, I can barely get out of bed, no focus.....I am so glad to be off it. I hope it hasn't done long term damage.

Hi everyone, I read some of the posts here and thought to share my experience with you.
About 15 years ago I started having heart burns and started taking Tums, Gaviscon and some other antacids and they seemed to work for a little while. But my heart burn slowly got worst and worst until I went to my family doctor. He sent me to a specialist and after sending the scope in my stomach (EsophagoGastroDuodenal (EGD) endoscopy), he said that I have H. Pylori infection in my stomach, as well as LES malfunction (LES = Lower Esophageal Sphincter). He prescribed some antibiotics and 20mg/day of Losec for 8 weeks.
After 8 weeks I ran out of Losec, and my heart burn returned again. I went and saw my doctor again and he said I can continue taking Losec and that I can take it as long as I need it and that Losec has been in the market for over 19 years and no one had any side effect from it and it's one of the safest drugs that they have come up with. So I kept on taking it regularly 20 mg/day for 15 years now. Until about 6 months ago I switched to Omeprazole because my insurance company wouldn't cover the cost for Losec but covered the generic brand Omeprazole. I've had none of the side effects mentioned here, BUT PLEASE READ THE REST OF THIS.
Losec is also called Prilosec and Omeprazole is a generic brand with the same active ingredient but different fillers.
About 2 months ago, I went to a Nature's Source store (here in Canada) and was looking around. An employee of the store offered his help to me and I told him about my case. He said you have totally shot down your digestive system and told me to go and see a Naturopathic Doctor.
I found one and went and saw him. His recommendations were: have 2 tablespoons of an Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (I use Bragg brand) 10 minutes prior to each meal. Also gave me some Probiotics pills as well as some Digestive Enzymes pills.
Prior to this, if I missed taking Losec in the morning, I suffered a great discomfort in my stomach with heart burn (a lot!).
I followed the naturopathic doctor's advice and did what he told me. After about 1 month, today is the second day that I haven't taken Losec. I haven't had discomfort in my stomach yet. I'll have to see how long I can go without it. I will post and update this again. BUT PLEASE READ ON!
Losec, Prilosec, Ranitidine, Omeprazole, Nexxium (the purple pill), and all of this family of drugs are Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI). Which means, they stop the production of the stomach acid. Therefore, no acid reflux or heart burn....
But when there is no acid in the stomach, the stomach becomes the biggest target organ and a paradise for bacteriums, microbes and other microorganisms, which otherwise can not survive in it's very high acidic environment (H. Pylori is an exception). We can not digest our food properly any more. Our bodies suffer from lack of Calcium (regardless of the amount and type of calcium intake), because it can not be processed any more. Meat can not be digested properly any more. Therefore, lack of Amino Acids which are the building blocks in our bodies. Guess what, NO AMINO ACIDS = JOINT PAIN WHICH LEADS TO ARTHRITIS. And lots of other problems later in life.
NO SIDE EFFECT, MY A*S.
If you're suffering from heart burns, indigestion, reflux, or GERD, stop eating: ANYTHING THAT HAS WHEAT IN IT, TOMATOES OR ANYTHING MADE FROM IT (i.e. ketchup, tomato sauce/paste...), DAIRY FOOD, COFFEE/TEA, ALCOHOL. NO CHEWING GUMS, SUGAR, CHOCOLATE, FRIED/OILY FOOD, STARCHY FOOD. STOP SMOKING AS SOON AS YOU CAN. These are all irritants to the stomach and esophagus.
I'm still educating myself about this. I read this book about stomach acid called: Why Stomach Acid Is Good For You by Jonathan V. Wright, Lane Lenard. Read it and you will be surprised.
I hope this will help some of you.

God bless.
S. AA (Toronto, Canada)

I feel like such an idiot. I'm usually so careful about new things. When I was prescribed Alesse 3 years ago I researched all the side effects, but I never had a problem. About a year ago, my pharmacy offered me Aviane, and since the pharmacist told me it was exactly the same as Alesse I figured I might as well save a few bucks. I trusted the pharmacist, and never thought to research the side effects since I believed it was the same. Now I know I was so wrong. I never connected the side effects until recently. I have noticed thinning hair around my temples for about 6 months, and it wasn't until I googled that expecting to find that its a normal part of aging (even though I'm only 25) that I came across so much about Aviane. Then reading everyone else's experiences, I realized I hadn't connected all the other side effects to this generic brand. I had rapid weight gain the first 3 months and have been unable to lose it no matter what I do. The depression, low sex drive, acne, and practically constant yeast infections I think now are all connected to Aviane. After reading this yesterday, I went straight to my pharmacy and switched back to Alesse. Even though it cost me $25 with my health plan (2 years ago it only cost $6 so I wonder if my plan pays less because of the cheaper alternative) I don't care, I just want to be healthy and sane again. Thanks for sharing your stories, they made me realize there was a problem and I can't wait to start my new pack tomorrow and see what happens.

*JENN*

I am 23 and never used to experience heartburn until I had my gallbladder removed last June. So at my Dad's recommendation, I bought the generic brand of Prilosec which was Omeprazole from Target. I was using it as the pamphlet instructed, (1) 20MG tablet for (14) days. Today is my 10th day and the only side effect that I believe I am experiencing is vivid nightmares. I have been taking birth control pills and a multivitamin for a long time now and because I just started with the Omeprazole, that is the only explanation I can come up with. That is how I found this site because I was trying to see if it was a common side effect. I have only experienced the nightmares for the past three nights however, I dream several different scenarios within a night. The last time I experienced consecutive nightmares was about 2-3 years ago when I was taking Lexapro for anxiety in which I had them for six months straight! As for the frequent heartburn -- it has disappeared but now I am afraid of continuing it in the future because of the massive list of complaints from other users. Just when I thought my problem was solved...you're damned if you do and damned if you don't!

J. T.

I WAS ON YAZ, WELL THE GENERIC BRAND OCELLA, FOR THREE MONTHS AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED MY SEX DRIVE WAS GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ITS BEEN ABOUT ONE MONTH AND IM STILL TRYING TO REGAIN IT...IM BUYING TOYS..LUBRICANTS,,,FANTASIZING WHATEVER I CAN DO AND ITS STILL NOT FULL THERE...IM ONLY FREAKING 24! THIS IS CRAZY. NEVER TAKING BC AGAIN...ANYTHING THATS UNNATURAL IS NOT GOOD FOR YOUR BODY, MY OLD-FASHIONED MOTHER WAS RIGHT!

This will be my fourth month on the pill, this is my first time on bc, I enjoy the pill i haven't had any nasty side effects. Although the first month while my body was adjusting my period stayed on for 28 days straight and then just stopped. However this pill is very expensive and I will probably be looking for the generic brand.

I have been on quite a few antidepressants, but not celexa. this is day 3 and i am hanging on for dear life. :( i don't feel good at all. i am wondering if anyone knows if it will get better. i am 22 yrs young and am so worried i will feel like this forever.. i have stomach pains, headaches, dizzy. and ocd... i don't even know if i have ocd but i feel like i do.. im worrying about the dumbest things (like stepping on my cat and breaking her tail...?) i promise i am not a crazy person.. but why do i feel like i am?

I feel very sleepy and tired, VERY irritable. After 3 days i got off the medication and went back to the other generic brand of Wellburtion
Im glad i found this website and know that im not the only person that feels this way about Budeprion.

Thanks a lot and i wish everyone well ;)

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (hypothyroidism) about 9 years ago. My teenager was diagnosed 2 years ago. I have done a good amount of research and have also learned a lot through experience.
*The most critical thing is to NOT accept a generic brand of thyroid replacement. My GYN, family doctor, and my endo (who specializes in thyroid) have told me that generic pharms are only required to match the original drug's ingredients/strength by 75%. As my GYN said, if you're in the business of making a profit, and you can get away with putting in 25% less of the expensive (and unfortunately, the essential) ingredient, that's what you're going to do!
*Measuring T4 alone may not reveal hypothyroidism in the early stages, and it will probably not show everything that is going with your thyroid. I knew something was not right, but my old GYN (got rid of her) tested T4 only and said I was fine. I went to an endo who measures 1/2 dozen indicators, including antibodies and thyroid uptake, and I was correctly diagnosed. He also diagnosed my son early on, albeit, my son was exhibiting numerous symptoms. Which brings up another point -
*Everyone exhibits a different degree of different symptoms. So don't be surprised if your thyroid levels are higher or lower than you thought they would be based on your symptoms.
*Find a doctor that will work with you. I had a doctor that insisted my dosage was correct, even though I was still feeling very tired, had dry skin, etc. I finally found a doctor that acknowledged that there is a range of "normal" thyroid function. He upped my med a little, and I've felt much better.
*Know the signs of too high of a dosage - restlessness, eye and muscle twitches, trouble sleeping, etc. Our endo has us come in 1 month after prescribing a new dosage to make sure it is enough or not too much. If I was exhibiting hyper symptoms, I would not wait 1 month to be rechecked.
*Hormonal changes of any kind can wreck havoc on your thyroid - whether you're a male teenager or a peri-menopausal woman. Your thyroid levels can change quickly. If my son or I experience any new symptoms - fatigue, rapid weight gain, unusually dry skin, muscle aches/pains, etc. - I make an appointment w/ the endo. My son's thyroid had plummeted the last time I took him in, and the endo adjusted his med. Illnesses (flu, pneumonia, etc.) can effect your thyroid levels, as well as stress, so have your levels checked after going through a serious bout.
*Once you have your dosage correctly set - watch your appetite! Hypothyroidism can reduce your appetite, and once you've got that corrected, your appetite comes back. Keep a food journal to track your calorie intake.
*Have an annual thyroid ultrasound to make sure your thyroid is not enlarged and to look for nodules (very common w/ hypothyroidism.)
*TAKE YOUR THYROID 1ST THING IN THE MORNING BY ITSELF 1 hour before you eat. I had a friend who was taking her calcium supplement along with her thyroid every day and later found out the calcium was basically canceling the thyroid. Her doctor should have warned her about this, but I think they assume we know these things. Vitamins, herbs, cold medicines, certain foods, and other medicines/supplements can greatly interfere with your thyroid replacement.
*Women with hypothyroidism should take a calcium supplement (take one with magnesium for better absorption) because we are at greater risk for osteoporosis. I take mine at night, so it does not interfere w/ my thyroid replacement.

i have been on aviane/alesse for about a year. i have noticed any side effects really. i took it because i have endometriosis which is heavy irregular, painful and emotional periods. the pharmacy keeps switching me back and forth from aviane to alesse which is suppose to be the generic brand. but lately i have noticed that alesse makes my cramps come back and i lose weight, while aviane makes me gain weight but feel better. i have noticed with both i get angry, but briefly, and its a million times better than when i would faint cuz of the pain, and take so much Tylenol that i wud hallucinate. i recommend anyone sick of trying so many brands of birth control pills, and sick of finding different side effects with each try Chaste- Berry (tree). its natural and amazing, but WARNING..it does increase fertility. but it has really helped. the brand i use is VITEX by lorna handerhaeghe. but if you really want to keep with birth control stay with the same one for least six months if your side effects are not bad. they do go away once your body adjusts. also some side effects may be because you are missing some vitamins that you need. ask to get tested at your doctor or naturalist. you would be surprised. for those that live in dark and dreary winter climates, most of us miss some vitamin D. a lot of us miss calcium which makes it possible to absorb vitamins. you can get your medical insurance to pay for chaste berry if you get a letter from your doctor.i wish you all luck!

I was on Loestrin 24 for 9 months and thought it was wonderful....until I was recently hospitalized for 2 weeks with blood clots in both lungs. The doctors determined that it was the Loestrin. If anyone knows of a class action lawsuit against them, please let me know.

I'm so glad I found this web site because I did think there was something seriously wrong with me, I took Prevacid for years without any side effects, switched to Nexium because it was cheaper and never had any problems with it, I was just at my doctors in Dec. 08 asked the doctor if there was a generic brand for Nexium because the cost has risen on that also so he prescribed 40mg of Omeprazole, took my 1st dose on Dec 31st, I thought I was having a heart attack, had severe pain between my shoulder blades, alot of burping, sick to my stomach, when I would eat it felt like my food was stuck in my chest, and also had a very nervous feeling, my husband suggested, that I stop taking the Omeprazole until I could talk with the dr. I only took it for 4 days and had these effects, I can only imagine what long term would do, I am feeling better still slight effects, but nothing like before, I will never take this drug again, I guess I will go back to forking out more money for the Nexium, it is just crazy the price we have to pay for meds.

My now 17 year old daughter was prescribed Yaz back on 7/12/07. Since then she has had an extreme problem with constipation. She has been to the doctors several times, and is now seeing a gastrointestinal specialist because she can only have a bowel movement if she takes a laxative. The pediatric doctor had her on miralax from April to October trying to get this problem under control. It has not worked. We are seeing the specialist and they are running her through a battery of tests, which will now possible include a colonoscopy (at 17 !!!!). She has been extremely moody and aggravated - which I attributed to her age of course. She is no longer extremely athletic, she doesn't really do a lot. She is not the same person, definitely is a homebody now - never going out hardly with friends,etc. She has also had a 20 pound weight gain and for a tiny girl, this has had a huge effect on her. I have watched all of this, and never really thought about the yaz connection until today when a friend sent me this email with a link to this site:
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that is when I got scared thinking maybe her problems were all caused by yaz. of course her acne cleared up, but her periods are still irregular and spotty. has anyone else experienced the bowel problems???

I am 21 years old. I have been taking Yasmin for 3 years with no problems. For the last two months I have used the generic brand of Yasmin. My breast size has increased, I feel bloated and have put on weight. Nothing else has changed. I exercise 6 days a week and eat the same. I have stopped taking Yasmin. Has anyone stopped taking it and lost the weight and if yes how long did it take?

I have been on fosamax for over two years.Then I was put on a generic brand. I have had bad jaw pain resulting from both brands. Also Had xray done found bone loss resulting from medicine. Something needs to be done. To much side effects.

I have been on Toprol XR generic brand metoprolol since February 2008. No side effects originally. My blood pressure wasn't extremely high but enough that I needed something. Just recently, my BP has sky rocketed. Dr. upped med from 25 mg per day to 50 mg per day. In the last month, I have put on 18 pounds. I am lethargic, not sleeping well at all. Mostly 2 hours a night. I don't have nightmares, just can't sleep. I want off this drug. It isn't controlling my bp anyway. I have a doctor's appt. in a few days. I don't look forward to the withdrawals but it has to be better than the alternative and staying on it. I am afraid of CHF. My legs, hands and face are swollen from fluid retention. I have pitting edema in my legs. I am not having trouble breathing but I don't want that to happen before I decide to go off of it. The website has helped me to realize it is the meds and not me. Thanks for the support.

I have been on Celexa (citalopram) for about 13 months. I took it at night, starting with 10mg and over time worked up to 60mg which is the max. dose. My doctor switched me to Lexapro and then Cymbalta to see if they worked better, but eventually I ended up back on Celexa, that seemed to be best. I did gain about 35 pounds on it, though and was still going, along with absolutely NO sex drive whatsoever. When my husband could finally coax me into it, I couldn't orgasm at all. I finally begged him to even stop trying, the attempts seemed to annoy me. This wasn't me, so I slowly tried weaning off of it. First down to 40, then 20, then 10.

so here's my question: I've been completely off of it for 3 days now and I'm still feeling dizzy, lightheaded, have indigestion, headaches, etc. The other times I was off of it, I went right on another med, so I didn't seem to notice the side effects. Anyone who has been taken off of Celexa, PLEASE respond and let me know how long these awful effects last? I have a 2 year old I have to care for and she doesn't understand why mommy feels "woozy" all the time.