Generic VS Brand Name Paxil

I have taken Paxil for about 15 years and about 1 year ago they switched me to generic and I have been on a downward spiral since. I just went back on brand and am hopeful that I feel better soon. Right now very depressed and considering a divorce after a 17 year marriage.

Jackie, try generic paxil made by Greenstone, it should work.

Tim, where do you get Greenstone from? Every place I've contacted has only Zydus Cadila (which I get HORRIBLE effects from) or Aurobindo (which I have heard bad things about in other forums). Right now I'm back on brand-name, which works soo well, but is just too expensive.

Joe, I'm showing you in Thailand so not sure where you might get it. I was told by a pharmacist about it and told that Greenstone is licensed to actually make the brand name and generic which they use the same pill for both. The color and the shape are the same as the brand which lone generics are not allowed to be. Keep asking different pharmacies if they can get it. It's definately out there. Let me know how it goes.

I have been on Paxil CR 25mg for many years. Not a problem at all. I get real insurance, and had to get a PA for the real stuff, so settled for the generic. Wrong move. I am jittery, have upset stomah, and feel on the edge of a crying jag. These are symptoms I have with my panic, so this is NOT working. Luckily, I have a call in to the Dr to get that PA so I can get back to the stuff that works. There IS a difference!

Steve wrote:

Glaxo Smith-Kline no longer makes brand name Paxil, they sold the rights to Apotex who is now making "brand" Paxil. Apotex even bought the rights to the label, font, everything, so unless you look clearly at the bottom of the label where it now says APOTEX you otherwise would never know. Who knows if it's the same or if it now is as crappy as their generic version.

How did you find this out? I also take brand name Paxil and was surprised to find that Apotex now makes it, when Apotex is a generics manufacturer. I had taken the Apotex generic for years until they stopped making it. I was switched to two other generics and got very sick. I was forced to switch to the brand name though I could ill afford it. Now I find out a generics manufacturer is making it? Am I just paying an arm and a leg for a generic that "says" it's a brand name? I am in the process of trying to taper off so I shave my pills and I just got a new bottle and noticed the pills are much powdery than they used to be. The powder used to be more crystalized and now it is a very fine powder which makes me wonder if they have changed the way they manufacture it. I really hope this doesn't have an effect on me as I am very sensitive to changes.

Tim, i'm actually in the US, it just shows the wrong location. Thanks for the information. I've recently started paying an arm and a leg for the 'brand name' (actually APOTEX) paxil, and I don't have the bad side effects for the first time in a looong time. I'm going to stick with that, despite the cost.

Joe, greenstone makes the brand name and you can get it for the generic price.

Roy wrote:

<quoted text>
Amazing because I experienced the same thing. I even told my doctor and he says " I've never heard of that happening."
It's so true!

Don't ever go on the generic Paxil. I went on the generic about 3 months ago and it all hit me on the 19th of Dec 2011. I woke up vomiting. Vomited 2 days straight. Went to urgent care thinking it was a virus. Was given a shot to stop the vomiting. Wed. morning sarted the vertigo and nausau. On Thursday and Fri started the cramps and headaches. By sunday Jan 1 had some diarhea still having the vertigo and nausau. Went back to my PA on Dec? and she gave me script for Brand Paxil, got a partial fill but Walgreens was not selling any more Brand Paxil. Finally went back to my PA yesterday 11 Jan 11. And she determined it was withdrawal from the brand name Paxil. Still have not found a pharmacy in two cities that carry the Brand Paxil. Feel very sick. Working and commuting; dizzy tired, crappy feeling. Hopefully CVS pharmacy has ordered and will have the brand name Pacil in by 2PM today. Then I am going to try to wean myself off of it.

And the very worst part of it is that my best friend and my husband don't even believe me.

Candy wrote:

I have been on Paxil CR 25mg for many years. Not a problem at all. I get real insurance, and had to get a PA for the real stuff, so settled for the generic. Wrong move. I am jittery, have upset stomah, and feel on the edge of a crying jag. These are symptoms I have with my panic, so this is NOT working. Luckily, I have a call in to the Dr to get that PA so I can get back to the stuff that works. There IS a difference!

I went on the generic Paxil and for the last 4 weeks it has been a nightmare. I have vomited, been dizzy non stop, nausuated. have to eat every two hours, cry almost all the time, scream at almost everydody, want to eat alot, I am anxious, depressed, want to slit my wrists part of the time.I have horrible dreams, and have hit my husband in my dreams.

Hi Everyone,

I have a similar story as everyone and have been taking generics for about 6 years, primarily from Walmart. Walmart originally provided apotex for $4 then switched to a blue, pull out dispenser made by Cadila about 1 1/2 to 2 years ago. Can't remember the exact time period. I started taking it and noticed a little change, primarily dizzyness and more than usually difficulty with brite lights.

I was able to get by since it was so cheap, but at the end of Nov 2011 I got a new 3 month prescription and things started going downhill. I was under a lot of stress at my company and thought my muscles were just tensing up and pinching nerves so I went to the chiropractor and told him to whip me into shape. He did but it didn't help the nerve feeling. My lower jaw is numb a decent amount of the day, and about 3 weeks ago I started feeling the electricity feelings, like I have the flu, and super anxiety.

I finally looked up the withdrawal symptoms for paroxetine and realized I was experiencing them all.

The quest to find a better generic:
I just made calls to all the pharmacies in my are (s. Chicago) and documented what generic manufactures they carry hoping to find greenstone.

Walmart - Cadila
Osco - Mylan
CVS - Auroran? <-first one I called before I started writing them down
Costco - Mylan and Aur ^same as CVS
Target - Greenstone

It was really easy to call around and ask who their generic manufacture is. I will let you guys know how I do on the Greenstone from Target for $4.

Notes: Drinking alcohol of any kind while going through the withdrawal symptoms seems like it is helping at first, but after it intensify's them horribly. I found milk to help calm my stomach and a lot of water to help me.

jackie wrote:

I have taken Paxil for about 15 years and about 1 year ago they switched me to generic and I have been on a downward spiral since. I just went back on brand and am hopeful that I feel better soon. Right now very depressed and considering a divorce after a 17 year marriage.

Jackie has it worked for you?

I just started taking generic instead of brand Paxil. It's my second try after deciding a few years ago that it didn't work for me like brand did. I was hoping this try would give me better results. I've only been on generic this time for 2 days. I can't go to sleep at night (it's now 5:00 am and I'm wide awake). I feel jittery and my short term memory has definately worsened. I'll go back to brand as soon as I can get it filled. My Dr. writes for brand but when we wanted to increase the dosage, the only choice was to take 2 25mg which is only carried in generic. I have also had a problem with getting brand name in some places. When I tried to refill out of state,7504 in Florida, Walgreens only carried the generic.

Walmart Woes wrote:

Hi Everyone,
I have a similar story as everyone and have been taking generics for about 6 years, primarily from Walmart. Walmart originally provided apotex for $4 then switched to a blue, pull out dispenser made by Cadila about 1 1/2 to 2 years ago. Can't remember the exact time period. I started taking it and noticed a little change, primarily dizzyness and more than usually difficulty with brite lights.
I was able to get by since it was so cheap, but at the end of Nov 2011 I got a new 3 month prescription and things started going downhill. I was under a lot of stress at my company and thought my muscles were just tensing up and pinching nerves so I went to the chiropractor and told him to whip me into shape. He did but it didn't help the nerve feeling. My lower jaw is numb a decent amount of the day, and about 3 weeks ago I started feeling the electricity feelings, like I have the flu, and super anxiety.
I finally looked up the withdrawal symptoms for paroxetine and realized I was experiencing them all.
The quest to find a better generic:
I just made calls to all the pharmacies in my are (s. Chicago) and documented what generic manufactures they carry hoping to find greenstone.
Walmart - Cadila
Osco - Mylan
CVS - Auroran? <-first one I called before I started writing them down
Costco - Mylan and Aur ^same as CVS
Target - Greenstone
It was really easy to call around and ask who their generic manufacture is. I will let you guys know how I do on the Greenstone from Target for $4.
Notes: Drinking alcohol of any kind while going through the withdrawal symptoms seems like it is helping at first, but after it intensify's them horribly. I found milk to help calm my stomach and a lot of water to help me.

How has the Greenstone worked for you?

I took a generic for years, the company name was Apotex. Then they were hit with an FDA ban for some factory issues, and they stopped making it. I switched to another generic and went south real fast...I switched to name brand, and it was much better. I recently heard that Apotex is making the generic again, so I switched back to save some money, but the pills are different, and I went south again (anxiety, nightmares, stomach ache, diareah). Now I am back to name brand, and paying over $300/mo. But things are back to normal (although my wallet is much lighter)....

TThompson84 wrote:

Thank you very much. Its nice to know that I am not the only one that has had problems with generics. I also started off (a couple years ago) taking a generic and I was fine, but this time I went to a different pharmacy and they had a different Generic. I think I will stick to the Paxil (brand name) as you suggested.

You are NOT the only one. The generic IS different and made me depressed. I'm having a hard time getting mine and it makes me livid!

Please people ask your pharmacy for Greenstone. It is considered a generic but it is also sold as the brand name. And it works!

Greg wrote:

I took a generic for years, the company name was Apotex. Then they were hit with an FDA ban for some factory issues, and they stopped making it. I switched to another generic and went south real fast...I switched to name brand, and it was much better. I recently heard that Apotex is making the generic again, so I switched back to save some money, but the pills are different, and I went south again (anxiety, nightmares, stomach ache, diareah). Now I am back to name brand, and paying over $300/mo. But things are back to normal (although my wallet is much lighter)....

From what I've gathered Apotex is now the official manufacturer of Paxil, at least in parts (maybe all?) of the US. GSK is still the owner, but you'll see Apotex stamped on all the official Paxil you buy. I know that the stuff I get from CVS now is name-brand, but Apotex is the manufacturer. This means that Apotex is no longer a generic option, unfortunately. I've had good results with them too, and I am willing to pay the extraordinary cost just to avoid the horrible generics I've come across. The last time I went to checkout, the pharmacist did a double take and asked me if I realized how much the name-brand cost! I told her, yes, unfortunately, I do know.

Thank you for all of your input and comments. I don't feel as badly now! I had a very bad experience on generic Apotec Paroxitene and demanded brand Paxil. I have a pharmacist who insisted there was no difference and implied I was imagining my symptoms. bottom line my anxiety and feeling deressed returned on generic. I was back on the Glaxo Brand but my last refill said Apotec. I woke up this morning feeling awful.... so, question is are they really making the original Paxil or using generic ingredients and we are paying the brand name price... I need to see how I am feeling in the next few days. Maybe just a fluke. We all have our ups and downs. Thanks again everybody....