I was on Alprozalam from"98"-"04",but the pharmacy stopped carrying the brand(Roache),and the new generic they had was like taking candy,did nothing for anxiety.My Pshyc explained that the filler in the various generics was the difference, and he started me on name brand in "04". I've been taking 8 mg a day for the past 7 years. I have new insurance now and they will only pay 50% per script of name brand.I can't afford the 400.00 a month to stay with name brand.So I'm trying to find out what brands are the most popular in the group.I take Xanax for extreme GAD,and it also helps with bi-polar,BPD,COD,PTSD,sleeping and eating disorders as well.Any answers would be greatly appreciated!!
What is the best generic alternative to Xanax?
Question posted by tejas129 on 13 Aug 2012
Last updated on 1 August 2023
75 Answers Page 4
This is a individual differences question.
For me personally, and I would like to preface this by saying that I have been dispensed many generics for alprazolam and I have found that Greenstone Xanax seems to be the most efficacious and strong and helps with my symptoms the best over others.
I'm on 3mg a day I have been filling my script at walgreens and getting brand actavis I feel like it don't work. I have never taken the xanax brand so idk how they are so today I ask for the brand name it was over 400 there's no way I can pay that my doctor just recently up my dosage because they just wasn't working. I live in ft laud and don't know what pharmacy carries what brand how can I find out because I don't want actavis anymore it's not helping. If I take 1mg I don't even feel it so I take more when I take a 2mg bar and it barley calms my anxiety
Had to make the switch from Brand name Xanax, which I have been on for years and still continued to work well for me at quite a moderate dose. 0.5 (Allowed a Max of three pr day..Often didn't need all three.) But a few months ago... My brand name Xanax Rx, jumped from from about 140.00 for my monthly Rx, to almost $400.00!!! So, I had no choice but try a Generic or pay a fortune for Brand name.
Anyway, for some months now, I have been on the same dose using Greenstones Generic... I "think" I may have noticed a minor adjustment hiccup, nothing serious and could have been psychological... But, all these months later, I must say that I have been doing quite well with the Greenstone Generic... And I am paying something like 28$ Pr. bottle as opposed to the now almost 400$ for the same Rx in Xanax brand name...
Also, I think what helped, was my Psychiatrist also Rx'ed me 10 Brand name Xanax tablets to help me adjust to the Greenstone... So, if I really felt that a Greenstone dose wasn't working for some reason... Next dosing time... I could take the brand name... Which wasn't very often... Also, I think there was just perhaps psychological comfort knowing I had a few brand name Xanax around if I "really" thought I needed it... But, all in all... I would have to say I seem to have acclimated to the Greenstone Generic quite well... And thank goodness, because I am also saving hundreds of Dollars...
Now, as a long time user of Xanax, would I like to ever get off of it after so many years?? Yes, of course, my Anxiety / Panic / OCD / PTSD have not been helped by many other types of non Medication Therapy models... And on top of that, I have a heart rhythm issue (PSVT) which complicates matters and while I am on a Med for that... It also can cause or add to my anxiety issues... And a PSVT episode can also feel just like a full blown Panic Attack and indeed... Even cause one... Sooooo... If the choice is generally having a better more normal quality of life by way of being on a Medication which I would suppose I am at least habituated too after many years... Of living my life with the Xanax-Generic and dealing with Panic Attacks, GAD and etc and living my life like that... I will stay on the Med thank you... And I have to say, while I have life problems like everyone else... Even with other health problems... My quality of life is pretty good, and I am very much social and active and hope The Good Lord Blesses me with a good many more years like this, yet to come... So, there it is! Hope you are all finding something that works!
My pharmacy ran out of the old Greenstone and the new Greenstone is not the same. I have to take twice as much to sleep. I do in two 4 hour doses and I am ok for 8 hours. Unable to find a mom and pop pharmacy with the old Greenstone now. Most are unaware of the change. It certainly makes for total loss of faith in big pharma and a better understanding of corporate greed. A large degree of cynicism follows. This group seems to have the best understanding of the situation but many others will never find us or understand.
Cocoa and CHAIR 2ND sorry I can't be of much help but on the very top of this page there is a spot that is labled A-Z FAR LEFT YOU WELL SEE WHERE THEY LIST GENERIC AND IN THERE ALSO IS A SPOT FOR INERT INGREDENTENTS IN THE SECOND COLEMEM SORRY FOR THE LARGE PRINT AND SPELLING RIGHT NOW CHEMO IS DOING MY EYES AND OTHER THINGS TO ME IF I GET BETTER I WELL LOOK THESE UP MYSELF BUT THAT IS ONE SPOT WHERE IT WELL LIST all of the binders or inert ingred that are in the generic of the brand you want to see.
chuck19557: how are you feeling? any new ideas on xanax?? I'm taking name brand and do not find them very potent. Today... experiencing brain fog and blurred vision. so, I'm experimenting since I had one week of feeling 95% better and it was on generics. Go figure. I still have some left, so I'm trying those for a few day to see if I feel any better. I can always tell within 5-7 days if the meds are working. Best to you.
Cocoa so far so good. Sorry could not get back to you but by now you should know if that other brand is helping and if it is making sure you write down the name of the company so you can try and stick with it. Lucky myself I just have not had any problems still the Mylan and the greenstone are doing pretty good for me. Best of luck if that brand is still working better than the brand please let me know. HOPE things are going okay for you try not to focus on the feeling most of us read too much into it. Chuck1957 have a good day.
I have tried every mfg of alprazolam. I have a great dr. who helps. My findings are so rare: Brand name 'xanax' did not work for me. I may as well have taken a tic tac. Greenstone no longer works. For me it's Activas in XR form and DAVA for regular (.25 or .5mg) They give some relief, but after 8 months still experiencing strange symptoms: no appetite, sensory overload problems, and still unbalanced when walking. I see my neurologist this afternoon. I even tried the holistic root. No luck. I'm glad I kept a diary of everything I took. This way he can see that I have been trying to help myself, but just a little more guidance with the meds. I also see a therapist. Please let me know how you all are doing!
Morning coco; Very nice to hear from you Just feel so bad that whatever they did to Alprazolam is also in the brand when I was in the hospital a few weeks back,Nothing worked but I am an Agoraphobia on top of everything else.So my Doctor gave me some Klonopin generic and I noticed a great help same family as Xanax but longer acting but I have found the way my doctor lets me use the alprazolam is as needed and when I need it I need it 10 minutes ago.And the old style I could just dissolve in my mouth and almost within 5 minutes I could finish what I was doing.and it only seems to help me about 1 out of every 3 times so I do understand part of it is me.Just over worrying about it. LIKE WE REALLY NEED THIS. LOL HAVE TO KEEP THE SENCE OF HUMOR. have you ever taken clonazepam so far it seems to keep me more level keeping my fingers crossed? These damn drug companies it's all about money and working in a pharmacy for over 40 years it's not like I did not know that.
Sorry still a lot of eye site problems and mistakes but I'm on this beautiful earth still thank God for that but I keep thinking the chemotherapy did something to my system.I am off of the chemo liquid crap they put in your veins but now they have me on some new type of chemo drug and side effects yuck this has what put me back in the hospital.I swear my friend when I can see better I well do some research and contact some of my sources and see if I can find anything else out. as my matto keep the faith,Think Positive,this includes staying away from negative people!!! and you have to keep a sense of humor.I don't mean to insult anyone I know faith is risky for a lot of people but I know there is someone helping me.But believe in whatever helps.Someone or thing has been helping and carrying me for the last few years without a dough not to mention my dear partner Robin. bless her she had breast cancer at the same time they found mine it's just not fair. And the chemo almost killed her on the second dose so they went to radition.but now having a problem for the chemo again. God, I need a Xanax. lol, thanks for having such a great heart always good to hear from you.And we'll continue to hope something helps you more soon your doing all the right thing. Please understand that it's hard for me to read and type but your questions are always welcome to me. But I feel bad because I get off track,my spelling and things I think it's hard to follow me at times.So please bear with me stick with the therapist to they have done me wonders over the years.But done with this bunch of so called type medical people and their wacky idea's at times your friend chuck1957
I have taken many generics since August 2015. None of them worked; I tried brand after brand, searching the internet, calling pharmacies, etc. I'm waiting for my 'brand name' xanax to arrive since a prescription for a large amount gets sent away. I'll see how these compare.
I need help my doctor wrote me a prescription for 60 Xanax 2mg. Marked off the "do not substitute" box. I went to Walgreens and rite aid and they said that they don't make/ can not get name brand Pfizer Xanax and haven't for years ? This is in 1/16. What am I suppose to do just go with generic ? Please help.
P.s. My friend gave me 2mg Xanax not even a year ago and they worked great. Were they fake ?
only you would know if they were fake... they probably wouldn't work.
my only suggestion is to call every store that has a pharmacy... target, Walmart, etc. See what they can do for you
I get name brand Xanax every month - I use CVS. This is also 1/16 klutz. Sometimes they don't have them in stock but they get them by next day. Target will order from companies they don't carry. Are you going to same Walgreen store. Try other pharmacies. That's just crazy they would tell you that... not sure who came first but Upjohn was listed on a bottle of one of my name brand pills but usually Pfizer. I think one bought the other. Write back and let me know. Do you have insurance, because my company wants me to use CVS but they paid for Target. Good luck.
Sorry about the 'klutz'. It auto corrected your name. I would never be mean or rude.
Thank you guys I appreciate the support!
Yeah it is crazy if you are getting them and they tell me differently. It's to late this month, I just had CVS call my doctor and change it so I could get generic greenstone thinking Brand name didn't exist anymore. But I will definitely call more pharmacies next month to see.
I have medi cal and they cover my scripts 100%
To all interested: As I have indicated in the past, Greenstone generic alprazolam, as of 1 1/2 years ago, took on a tremendous lack of efficacy (like zero for the .5 mg.) After my filling out numerous forms and sending them to the FDA & Greenstone, Pfizer (who is the parent of Greenstone Generic) sent me forms to fill out. I've filled them all out months ago. Nothing has transpired over 6 months. These reports are forwarded to the FDA, and the FDA also sends out forms to fill out, which I have done. Neither Pfizer nor Greenstone, nor the FDA has ever requested I send them samples of the drug in question for testing efficacy. I have always offered samples for testing, but this offer has always been ignored.
It is quite likely that in the past, Greenstone generic alprazolam was actually genuine Xanax. Please re-read that last statement. If that was the case, that stopped. I have a strong indication why. Pfizer recently acquired a huge pharmaceutical company to add to their holdings; a company called Allergan. For this acquisition to go through, the Board of Directors and stockholders of both Pfizer & Allergan must agree upon a buying and selling price and an agreement to facilitate this transaction. In addition, the FDA must give it's approval, not to mention the branch of the government that guards against trusts, monopolies, and potential decreases in marketplace competition.
In such an acquisition, it is to the advantage of both Pfizer & Allergan to 'clean up' their financial statements prior to a purchase/sale, in an endeavor to show such things as each firm's highest net profits (that means scrutinizing every drug, division, etc.) lowest costs, strongest cash flows, and most solid asset bases. If you don't understand some terms, don't worry... I do, and I'm a retired CPA and was an accounting college professor for 25 years.
I theorize Pfizer found a cheaper way to have Greenstone make alprazolam (and not just have Pfizer simply pass the real Xanax down to Greenstone and label it the Greenstone generic for alprazolam.) That move most likely increased the net profits of Pfizer which was to Pfizer's advantage, when Allergan scrutinized Pfizer's financial statements, when considering selling to Pfizer.
What the future holds for the efficacy of generic Greenstone alprazolam is anyone's guess. Now that Allergan WAS purchased by Pfizer, it is Pfizer's decision whether to return to using their name brand Xanax as a Greenstone generic, or keep the current formula (which I have found totally useless.)
A pharmacist manager at one of the largest national chains who regularly buys and is responsible for working with pharmaceutical suppliers in purchasing the retailer's pharmaceutical drugs, told me it is VERY COMMON for big Pharmas that own generic Phamas, to simply pass down the real Name Brand drug to their generic division, so as to capture a segment of the generic market.
I agree it is in THEIR best interest not to issue the same generic. But after taking Greenstone for many years with no ill effects, I now concerned with a boatload of issues. 2ndchair: do you have it anywhere in writing on even on the interent that the formula has changed in the past years? This would be a big help. It took me 5 months of being very sick, to determine it was most likely the change in their formula. I take alprozolam 2mh xr. In the past, one pill lasted for 24 hours. No longer. Any help here?? Thanks in advance.
Connie: I don't have it in writing. It is simply a very educated guess on my part, based on personal conversations between my physician and myself and the pharmacist and myself. Try writing Pfizer/Greenstone to see if they are willing to elaborate(which I doubt.) Or contact the FDA. They'll probably just send you forms to fill out. Over the past 6 months, I've received cover letters and forms from Pfizer mentioning a 'refund' for my co-pays (which I have never have received.) Neither firm ever requested I send them samples for testing of the ineffective pills I still have in my possession, which is usually the first step the FDA requires. Or you could call Pfizer directly. I did this, but again, they NEVER requested pills and lot number for testing. Until I hear back from Pfizer or the FDA, I would guess an option is to discuss the issue with an attorney.
Thank you for all the information 2ndchair!! After 2 psychiatrists, 3 therapists, 3 MD's, 2 ENT 's, 2 hospital visits, a CAT scan and an MRI, I was the one who picked up on the change in formula. Granted, I was slow, but was eventually able to piece it together. It's expensive to get medicine examined for efficacy but I may do it. I have 3 bottles with the same lot number and code on them. I'm waiting for the brand name which should come in late this week.
I spent so much time researching where generics are made and how it's done, It's scary. I may not have a PhD but I am educated and will get to the bottom of this since I have receipt and a list from the pharmacy of all six meds I tried which made me worse. The medical community was just writing me off. Thank heaven for my neurologist!!! Next step may be an attorney. I wasted 5-6 months of my life because of this change. Now I want answers. It has also made me cynical... so, I may get nowhere too.
Connie: You've established an excellent and extensive paper trail, including dates, lot numbers, receipts (I assume from a multitude of all those doctors, pharmacies, and hospital.) That's what lawyers look for, prior to taking on a case. Some lawyers give you a free first visit, others, no. Big firms have "gatekeepers"... people who answer the phone, write as fast as they can as to what your case is about, and pass that information on to an attorney for a decision whether or not to take on your case. If you never get a call back, (as I've experienced) they don't want the case. I once called a firm that was recommended to me by my family attorney. 2 weeks after my first contact with them, as I never heard back from them, I called them again. The gatekeeper told me they didn't want to pursue the case. Good luck. 2nd chair.
Hi all,
New and joining the conversation late... But, the subject has recently just become important to me. I have been on Xanax for many years (PTSD, Intractable Anxiety and Panic Attacks etc.).
I am allowed 3 .5mgs of Xanax daily... So, even after being on Xanax for many years..Probably still not exactly a "giant" dosage... However, just recently, the cost of my monthly Xanax Rx's just shot up to over $300.00 from less than half of that cost.
Now, I have had not had good luck at all with generics in the past, but because I don't have insurance that will cover Meds, I decided to try Greenstone, which I am taking at the moment... My early impression is, that I need to take one and one half tablets of the Greenstone to approach the effectiveness of brand Xanax... And that it seems to take the Greenstone a little bit longer to kick in than brand Xanax, but that it can last near as long when it does...
My "feeling" is, that the Greenstone works, but "might" not be just quite as fast and strong as brand Xanax... But, I wouldn't say that it doesn't work (For me.)... However, body or physical sensations that can go along with Anxiety / Panic "don't seem" to calm down quite as well with Greenstone as they do with brand Xanax...
I am very early in, with this switch from brand Xanax to Greenstone and the above is what I have noticed "for me" thus far... Could some of it be in my mind? (I don't know.). But, at this point, I would say the Greenstone works, but perhaps not quite as well as brand Xanax... I am trying to think positive, as after all, here, where I am... 90 tablets of .5mg brand Xanax is now over $300.00... Whereas, I am only paying $14.00 for 90 Greenstone Xanax generic!!! So, I am highly motivated to want this to work... "BIG" difference between $300.00 and $14.00!!! So, I am trying to give it my best shot... Fortunately (Except for the expense side.) if I decide that the Greenstone is not cutting it, my Psych will let me go back on brand name...
You know, I am not the best for figuring out "money things." But, I would've thought, by raising the price of brand Xanax so very high, that despite the folks who could still afford or who have Cadillac Insurance etc, that Pfi. has to have lost a huge number of customer base and all of those customers are not necessarily going to opt for their Greenstone product!
Of course, I do get that big Pharma doesn't actually give a tinkers darn about "us." It's all about the $$$$$... Anyway! Just my 2 cents... Hope others are finding that Greenstone brand still is a good generic in 2015...
tejas129; See if the pharmacy can order greenstone for you This was the very first generic on the market when the generic was released and it is from the same company that made The brand name Xanax. if a chain store won't check with some small stores around you.
From what I'm understanding, the formula for Greenstone has changed. I can definitely tell because I take the 2mg xr. Talk about sick!!!
Chuck, Greenstone didn't work for me, delivery system was different, wore off quickly. Glad it works for you, you are lucky. See other people's comments - they tried every generic with no luck, though I'm seeing 2 mg Greenstone worked for someone. I get .25 and 2 mg to make up my dose - I might try one of the 2 mg again to see. It's dangerous though because within 3 days, a person could go into severe withdrawal if not getting enough of the medicine. Happened to me once, mini-seizures- shaking, rigidity until my dose of name brand built up.
Chuck: You ask what's the best alternative for Xanax. Unfortunately, the answer is, "It depends." A simple answer might be Valium or Klonopin. Some doctors prefer short acting benzodiazepines (Ativan, Serex; as is Xanax) and others prescrible longer acting benzodiazepines. Xanax can be prescribed for multiple purposes; ie. panic disorder, anxiety, dysthymia, stage fright, and sometimes it helps with types of pain accompanied by psychological or even physical illnesses. Best to get a real shrink's opinion on your particular condition.
Chuck: By the way, all the drugs I mentioned are available as generics.
2ndchair; Thanks for all the info, So far so good hope with all the complaints they are getting they well rethink whatever they have done differently.
Hi, curious what has happened. Did you find a generic? Thanks. I'm still on name brand - generic I tried was awful. My dr wrote an appeal saying name brand is medically necessary, so think that dropped it but not 50%. Hope to hear from you since you wrote this in 2012. I've seen your name I think in other more recent comments. Thanks.
Didn't know such a thing as an 'appeal' existed. Thanks for this knowledge. I have come to the same conclusion, as you have. At this date 11/15, I find all generic alprazolams now lack even the closest efficacy of the original Xanax, which is manufactured by Pfizer. (I have tried 7 different generic versions of alprazolam over the last 6 months... they are all very, very lame as to efficacy, relative to Xanax.) So, I never did find a good generic once Greenstone changed its formula back in 2/14. People on this blog earlier praised Greenstone. And I used Greenstone for many years and it WAS excellent; 100% equivalent efficacy to Xanax. But as of 2/14, that ended. Something changed. My guess is as follows: Fact: Greenstone is the actual generic extension company of Pfizer, the later firm that manufactures Xanax.
I theorize it was cheaper and easier for Pfizer to simply pass their genuine Xanax product down to their gteneric Greenstone division, erase the imprinted name 'xanax' and stamp 3722 on the pill to get a piece of the huge generic market. Consequently, prior to 2/14, one who was taking Greenstone, was really taking the brand name Xanax. (It's just a theory, but to me it sure makes a lot of sense.) But as of 2/14, Greenstone lost it's efficacy. My guess is Pfizer, the parent company of Greenstone now finds it more profitable to sell Xanax to a small, but growing, wealthy market segment. By Pfizer having stopped passing the genuine Xanax product down to their generic Greenstone division, Pfizer/Greenstone loses out on some profits in the generic market, Greenstone was NEVER a big player in the generic alprazolam market, anyway. (Do you know of any pharmacy that regularly carried Greenstone IN STOCK?) Pfizer can reap outrageously huge profits in the reviving name brand Xanax market, (and medicare market) because more and more people are having to switch to Xanax for relief (if they can afford it.) And more baby boomers are becoming eligible for medicare. Currently, under medicare, the patient's co-pay drops tremendously for Xanax... like to $50 a month. As for me, I've currently concluded Sandoz alprazolam is the best generic I've tried... but that's not saying a lot. I will probably bite the bullet and return to taking Xanax.
Hello everyone, I know this thread is old but I recently put in a complaint to Pfizer - umbrella company ( Green Stone LLC ) .
Long story short, I had the same problem as everyone else when they had to switch from brand , Upjohn Pharma- umbrella company to ( Pfizer )
Here's the thing anyone who takes this medication daily and has for years now know ,that Green Stone LLC was making brand Xanax up to 2012 .
Then the change was made from the old school greenstone to crappy New - greenstone when there new pills would dissolve under your tongue in matter of seconds.
They are still around the old school GS that would not dissolve under your tongue in a matter of seconds. Actually it would take 5-7 minutes sometimes if you just let it dissolve .
Brand name Xanax is the same compound same fillers as the old GS that is not made anymore.
People who read this will know what I mean with out a doubt.
So anyway this has gone completely on for to long.
Greenstone may have been the best ( generic ) to get 2 years ago, and sometimes you will get lucky and a batch of 500 of the old school GS is ordered by your pharmacist.
Anyway if I made sense to anyone at least I'm getting somewhere, hopefully someone will get back to me and fill me in with some things I truly don't know.
Right now I'm taking ( PUREPAC ) now Activas llc.
They seem to be the best as of now for me until I can get my brand back and be happy with getting what helps me .
Posted 12/08/2015 @ 10:45pm (PST)
Now that Pfizer has purchased Allergan Pharmaceuticals, the inefficacy of Pfizer's generic arm (Greenstone-alprazolam) makes a lot of sense. The industry is all about profits. Pfizer most likely saw it more profitable to NOT simply send their genuine Xanax drug to Greenstone, but instead have Greenstone manufacture a cheaper version of the generic. This accomplished one important thing when it comes to mergers and acquisitions. Pfizer's Income Statement showed greater profits. This, in turn, solidified in the minds of the board of trustees of Allergan Pharmaceuticals that selling their company to Pfizer was a good move, financially. Now we must wait to see if Pfizer returns to their old practice of letting Greenstone sell real Xanax (as in the old days,) as their generic version of alprazolam, sacrificing a little profit for the good of patients. But remember: The #1 goal of a for-profit business is to make a profit; the bigger the better.
And bigger generally means the board of trustees gives the company's Chief Operating or Executive Officer a bigger (we're talking in the millions of dollars) Xmas bonus at year end. There used to be a site called Paywatch which listed CEO's salaries. It still may exist. I'm sure the CEO of Pfizer isn't hurting.
can someone give the site where it says that greenstone changed the mfg of alprazolam?
It need to see this since I had such a bad reaction and have been sick for 5 months until I realized what caused it. Thanks for any help you can give!!!
Coca2431
Not sure where to find that it has changed. But doesn't matter. I've been in contact with Pfizer many times , even sent them samples of the new version and old version.
Long story short they could care less about us little nobody's .
The only advice I could give is keep switching from one brand that works to another brand that works .
That's has helped me tremendously , honestly I hated Sandoz 2mg with a passion . Now I use Sandoz and the green bars .. Can't think of the name right now.
Hope that helps you at all
I take 2mg alprazolzm xr. I received a new batch in august of 2015. Within 7 days I was dizzy and sick. I knew it was bad stuff. I tried many other brands but none compared to the original Greenstone. My neurologist wrote my prescription for name brand only ... so, that should come in about a week. Five months of trying to get better is enough for me.
I would would really like to know how those of you on this board knew the brand was modified/changed. Can you point me in some direction? I tried an internet search with no luck. Maybe I should just call them, but now i'm so cynical, I wouldn't believe anything they said,
Connie2431
Well since your on XR rather than IR , the way I found out was immediately . The bottle I got from Walgreens who had to special order them for me ( Much Thanks) a few months in a row .
1 day I went to go get my refill and my pharmacist knows how picky I am and sensitive to inactive ingredients put into generic pills .
He noticed a slight difference in appearance from the same bottle and lot # from where they originated from.
Brought it to my attention , I quickly glanced at the pills just to make sure they were GreenStone and to me they looked identical .
Long story short with the Xanax 2mg Ir ( instant release ) I always let the pill dissolve under my tounge been doing it for years ( seems to work much quicker )
One day I went to take a pill and put it under my tounge and it dissolved instantly
I was very surprised by this because usually it takes 4-5 min to dissolve fully.
Then that's when I noticed the difference between brand Xanax and there new version of GreenStone which dissolved like candy in my mouth. Completely different inactive ingredient that made greenstone go from # 1 in my books , to the worst generic as of 1/22/2016.
When I say brand Xanax I truly believe the old school greenstone was brand , just another number imprinted on it.
Hope this helps anyone else having issues with GreenStone.
we all know how we feel on certain brands of generics. I can understand each of the comments and sympathize. I REALLY need to see in writing from the company (Greenstone) how/when the change was done. Does anyone have an answer or can you help in some way. Sure, we all can tell by taking the meds, but I want more than that!!! Thanks in advance.
Coca2431
They are looking at my current statement
To 2nd chair: Medicare pays more for brand name Xanax? I need to check this out. My company uses Silverscript ins which, with an appeal letter from my dr drops price, but still not affordable. Thanks for info. I'm finding out much useful info on this site so thank you so much to those who are taking time to thoroughly write their experiences.
My neurologist wrote that I have to take the brand name,,, no generics. The only one in regular form that worked was DAVA. But after researching it may not be the same batch to batch. I take 2 mgxr and it always lasted all day. Did that for 12 years. All of a sudden a new bottle comes and within 5-7 I'm sick. Google the mfg, where it's made, and the inactive ingredients. What a shock!! One had wood chips in it. And that was right on their site! I feel like a Guinea pig. After the patent is no longer proprietary , anything goes. These generics can vary by 10% of the active medicine. Each company tests their own ... Not the FDA And not that I have any faith in the FDA at this point anyway!! Lots of luck to all reading this. We need a class action suit.
to Jag4112: do you have any documentation on how the drug was changed. I can tell because of how sick I got. But to an attorney or or mfg company, that just won't be enough!! I really need to find this somewhere so I can have the documentation. any help??? Thanks so much!
The documentation (if it still exists) is in the emails in the computer systems of Greenstone/Pfizer. How to get at it:
1. a lawsuit would most likely have to be filed, or the FDA would have to deal with a slew of complaints or deaths. Otherwise:
2. You might write the Attorney General in your state for further suggestions.
3. Contact your state senator/House of Representative that represents your district. He/she will put you in touch with the right congressmen that deal with the FDA. All congressmen in Washington are assigned to certain committees and branches of the Federal government.
How inconsistent are the generics? I tried 45 1mg. Purepac. aprazolams recently. Although not great, they were trifle better than the other generics I had tried up till that point. So one week later I ordered a 3 month supply. This new Purepac prescription 3 month supply had much less efficacy, simply made me drowsy, had no effect on agitation, depression. Now I'm stuck with 3 months of this stuff.
Nursing homes/hospitals as a rule do not order name brands if a generic is available, due to cost, and most patients' insurance policies will not cover the name brand if a generic is available.
But there's hope on the far off horizon. Once you turn 65, currently, you will sign up and pay for something called medicare part D ( which covers prescriptions.) Medicare part D divides all drugs into 4 categories, called formularies. Xanax is a group 3 formulary. The price of a month's supply (maximum 4mg. per day) drops dramatically, (like currently from $500 for a month's supply to $50 for a month's supply. But I know most readers of this site are not near this age. Consequently, I have no solid solution. For me, it's been 20 years since I tried a REAL Xanax. So I don't even know if Pfizer still formulates that pill the same as it did when it was reasonably priced back in the 1980's, when you could get a month's supply of real Xanax for about $13. Why? Because there were no generics of Xanax available. Xanax still had a patent.
To Ellissee, Re: Medicare pays more for name brand. Yes, I just turned 65 & now am enrolled in Medicare (but not Silverscripts.) As I understand it, Silverscripts is a 'stand-alone part D supplement to Medicare. Do check what Silverscripts charges you as a co-pay. My Medicare plan is called an Advantage Plan (sometimes called a 'supplemental plan) which includes both Medicare parts B & D. Name brand Xanax in my plan is a tier 3 medication; 1mg. up to 4X daily (120 tablets, monthly, maximum) costs me a $50 co-pay for one month, whether I buy through the company's own prescription service or retail; ie. Walgreens, CVS, etc. If I buy 3 months at a time, they charge me $100 co-pay, (but ONLY if I buy through the plan's own prescription service through the mail.) If I buy retail, 3 months costs $150; still $50 a month.
Given the fact that I've found ALL of the generics do not address my symptoms of agitation, mild depression, nor do they "kick in" within 15 minutes, (all the generics seem to take about an hour before I can feel them make me a bit drowsy... and that's all they do is make me drowsy) I requested my doctor write me a one month's prescription of name brand Xanax (no substitutions) to try. If I find name brand Xanax works like in the old days, this may be the best option for me.
Hi all, as far as Xanax go, I only use the sandos brand. unless you were started out on the Upjohn brand who were the first makers of Xanax and you have the money to pay over $400.00 . I have been on them since they cane out and replaced valium that I was on before them. I went to a rite aid pharmacy and asked them to order them for me. When the person behind the counter asked why I didn't want the mylan or the others they had I answered "because they don't work". Now the pharm keeps a bottle with my name on it. My sister does the same. If you go and ask your pharmacist to please keep them in stock for you and keep quiet about it they will. Because if they don't work , believe me you will be short if you try to make them work by taking more then you were written for.
The Sandoz brand of .5mg always worked for me. My original prescription was to take 2mg XR (Greenstone)once a day. The .5 mg were to keep 'just in case'. I won't bore you with the details, but I know get name brand for both mentioned above and I'm finding that they do not work as well as some of the old generics. I'm at a loss for what to try. I'm tired of blurred vision and foggy brain. Some of my other symptoms subsided, but after being on name brand since Feb.4,2016, I noticed a big difference in 5-7 days after starting them. I'm now experimenting. I went back to DAVA brand becasue for one week while taking those I felt like a normal person. The brand came, so I stopped those, took the new ones and haven't felt quite the same again. I hate to increase my dose. There are days when I feel nauseous and i wonder if this is due to the meds. Replies/suggestions appreciated.
I wished I could give you a answer honey! I have been done so wrongs with the xanax’s they have lower my dose and am bout all the time ! I lost son 4 years ago he was 30 I relive finding every day I would anything if I could find a dr. That cared !!! I will keep you in my prayers!!!
Anything but Mylan... I wish Qualitest was still available!!!
tejas129 Kaismama nailed this one right on the head when i was still working I would just have to roll with the punches.It was so hard when the brands would change and people in most cases could not accept the change. So I would try and keep Greenstone in stock because it looked just like xanax and also it is the generic company for upjohn that makes Xanax. myself I have never had any problems with any of the brands.So much people make up there mind before they even try it.And just don't like changes. Have a good day.
Update: My physician doubled the strength of the ineffective (as of 2/14) Greenstone brand .5 mg. alprazolam. Result: The Greenstone 1mg. lacks efficacy also. I had no luck with Activas brand nor Qualitest brand. Will try Dava & Sandoz brands this week. If neither of those brands work, I will be forced to go back to the name brand Xanax, hope it works (and will thus have to pay through the nose.) I'm almost certain the FDA approved a new (and cheaper) filler which renders the generic alprazolams quite ineffective for long term users. By the way, Greenstone is a generic division of Pfizer. Pfizer makes the name brand, Xanax. I'm sure for many years, Pfizer simply sent the name brand Xanax pills to their Greenstone division and had Greenstone simply not imprint the word 'xanax' on the pill (which appears on their name brand,) but instead imprint the Greenstone generic code G3720, on the pill.
Dear 2nd Chair,
I just changed pharmacy and picked up my generic Xanax .25. It is a a Dava product. You mentioned you were going to try Dava generic Xanax, I was wondering how it is going? I have heard pro/con comments about Actavis brand but I did well on it and now am a little concerned with the different brand. Personally I can see a little humor in my reaction... changing anxiety med on a person with anxiety, well you get the picture, I hope, but mostly I am concerned.
I hope you do well with your search, and will wait for your response. I am a first time user to this forum.
Warmest regards
I responded 2 weeks ago, but the keeper of this website found something objectionable in my answer, and failed to post it. I have been going through ALL of the generic alprazolam brands over the past 4 months, having my pharmacist fill prescriptions for me only two weeks at a time, with a different manufacturers' versions of alprazolam. The only generic I have not yet tried yet is DAVA. (I have 10 days to wait before the pharmacist will order this for me.) But if the following helps, on a scale of 0-5, I'll present my personal findings in an efficacy rating table; 5 being the best (equivalent to the name brand Xanax, and 0 having no efficacy, whatsoever.) Good luck. If you can afford it, buy the 2mg name brand Xanax, and break it in fourths (it is scored.) So each fourth is equivalent to .5mg.
Xanax... BRAND NAME 5.0 (manufactured by Pfizer)
St. John's 1.75 (tough to find) Walgreen's used to carry it.
Activas 1.5
Purepak 1.5
Qualitest 1.5
Sandoz 1.0
Greenstone (as of 2/14) 0.25
Mylan 0.0
Findings: I have found all of the generics on the market today, are "missing something" that the old Greenstone generic used to have, and I assume the name brand Xanax still does have. All of the generics FAIL to stop agitation, which is a common symptom of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, but the generics, to varying degrees make you drowsy, and calm you down a trifle.
Conclusion: Do you think anyone on Capitol Hill ever took a generic drug?
Wow mine say G3722 on the pill. I wonder why? I will try to investigate further. Are you sure of the number 2ndchair?
3720 would be correct for Greenstone. Update: I have now tried the .5mg. Dava brand. Making reference to my chart, I would rank it at .5 rating relative to a perfect 5.0 rating for name brand Xanax. I have gotten involved writing Pfizer, Sandoz and the FDA, re: this situation. Of all the generics available, the Sandoz .5 mg. now seems to pack the best efficacy for it's strength. I haven't been able to get St. John's in over 1 1/2 years. But that's still not even close relative to the old (pre 2/14) Greenstone or the name brand Xanax. Some pharmaceutical managers at CVS will special order the Sandoz brand for you if you request it. But be aware; special orders take anywhere from 4-7 days to complete.
I have had pharmacies tell me they can ONLY get what their distributor brings in. No special orders. This is like a circus.
You can add Dava to this list. Score: .75.
I have been on both klonopin and Xanax. Qualitest is by far the best generic kpins. Also sandoz and activis make good generic clonazapam, As well as teva. I am on Xanax now and activis/purepac are the best generic consistently. I have heard qualitest generic Xanax is amazing as well they are blue 2mg bars apparently. Can't find those anywhere. And yes greenstone is owned by Pfizer. Greenstone and dava are the only other generic alprazolam that I would take. The GG249 sandoz are complete crap.
Related topics
xanax, depression, anxiety, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, pharmacy, generic
Further information
- Xanax uses and safety info
- Xanax prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Xanax (detailed)
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