I finally got my cheapo doc to give me an Ativan script. I would up having a major anxiety attack to get him to do it. And he still didn't give me many, he gave me 15 of the 2 mg tabs. I told him I only wanted 1 mg tabs because I usually take 0.5 mg at a time. But now he says he has this weird thing with numbers. Her says he only writes benzos for 15 pills. (btw, last time he used that line he said 30 pills) So I could have 15 of the 2 mg or 1 mg. So I took the 2 mg, but it would have been easier for me to get the 1 mg. I almost think he's playing games with me. Like if I would have said the 1 mg tabs then maybe he would have given me 30 anyway. I don't get this. He's not brain dead, even a grade school kid can figure out the 15 o9f the 2 mg tabs equals 30 on the 1 mg tabs. So I just don't understand his reasoning. When he does this toe he causes an anxiety attack so as soon as I got home I filled the script. I always ask which brand they have with benzos because I have gotten some that really didn't work well, but that was before I learned to concern myself with brands. In the past 6 months they have always had Mylan Ativan and Mylan is the brand I think works best. But they didn't have Mylan this time. They had something I never tried, Actavis. I reluctantly agreed because at that point I felt like I was dying for 1. But I should have insisted the pharmacy order me the Mylan brand. Either that or I should have gone to other pharmacies. I am very unhappy with these Actavis. I almost feel like they don't work at all.
Has anyone here taken Actavis Ativan and would you give me an opinion please? I realize we're all different. I was on a different board once and some man was unhappy because he got Mylan Xanax. He thought Mylan made the worst Xanax there is. Meanwhile I think Mylan makes the best benzos there are regardless of which one. So I wonder what I'm going to hear about Actavis Ativan?
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6 Answers
MA
mame0723
21 Aug 2018
Hi Thor... I wanted to let you know that I have been on almost all the major generic lorazepams. Sandoz I found to be the best for me with exceotion of the insomnia I suffered due to it. It was quick and effective with very little side effects. However, I learned this morning from Sandoz that they are discontinuing their lorazepam. I asked why but they didn't answer that.
So I now take 2mg Actavis Watson lorazepam and adjusting. It's a little more sedating and doesn't address anxiety completely... but it does calm. Actavis took over Watson 2017. I just learned that. I hope you are able to a good generic lorazepam. Mylan is a heavy sedator. So if you need sleep and anxiety relief its good. But be prepared to sleep heavily. I would take it as I have insomnia. It's good sleep and good eating and anxiety is reduced but thats it. Take care.
Votes: +0
KA
Kajiu
2 Sep 2018
Have you ever tried “Major” and “Leading” brands? Can us suggest the closet to “Sandoz”? Is it worth trying to get the non-generic name brand Ativan? Have you ever tried it? I heard it’s very expensive but if your doc subscribes it one has a change to get it.
Thank you
JU
jumpman2377
6 Nov 2018
actavis took over watson on 1-24-13 and then on 8-2-17 teva pharmaceutical took over actavis
MA
mame0723
7 Nov 2018
That's interesting. My medication says Actavis manufacturer and Watson on the pill.
I don't know why your post says 2011, it's now 11/28/16, and this has happened to me today. Watson is the first to show lorazepam, then qualitest, then Mylan. I had to go to Activis, which is now Sandoz... it was like taking an aspirin, didn't work at all. I've been on the Qualitest brand for years and sometimes is so strong have to break in half. I've taken 1 mg twice a day for 10 years and had a fit this month and called 10 pharmacies before finding the qualitest brand so changing pharmacies. Everyone I called said nothing will happen until enough people call Activis/Sandoz to complain...
Votes: +0
TH
Thor283
29 Nov 2016
It's amazing what the pharmaceutical companies get away with because the FDA is supposed to make sure such things don't happen. I complained to the FDA once and it's a royal pain in the butt. Eventually I was contacted by the company who made the pill. They require information most people don't have. They wanted the batch number off the bottle. Eventually that company stopped making that med. I don't know why but maybe the FDA did investigate them. My guess is that drug became too expensive for them. But who knows.
DE
Denise01
29 Nov 2016
From everything I've researched, this company makes Ativan (lorazepam), and the Fentanyl patches now. Supposedly, according to Web.com, Activis has been found to reduce the main ingredient by 20% and uses more fillers. Due to the growing drug problem, people who really need these medications are now suffering severely because we have no choice but to order what they put in stock. Meijer, Walgreens, all the Target stores now have CVS controlling their pharmacies, and Kroger all stock the Activis brand. I went through a local no name pharmacy who has two of the Qualitest pills in stock and says will give me those and order the rest of my prescription directly from Qualitest and will have them in one day. Since this is one of the few drugs that cannot be transferred more than one time per prescription, I will have to get my refills through them until a new prescription can be written.
I'm really hoping by the time my refills run out, Activis will no longer be making this and it will go back to the top three. On page 1 of Pill Identifier, Mylan is the third one down, as I said above. By the time I got to Activis, it was on the very last page of the manufacturers who make this drug. So, it has to be garbage. I just wonder what other medications of mine may be made by this company. I'm reporting them to Yelp as well as the FDA. May not do any good, but certainly worth a try if we can get all these other people to contact them as well. I have a friend who also takes lorazepam and she was delivered her's just 3 days ago and they are the Watson brand who was the first one on the list. She goes through a family owned pharmacy instead of the one's I mentioned, so that may be an option for you. She called it a Good Neighbor pharmacy. Good luck to you. By the way, when did you send your first complaint??? It says it was posted in 2011, but has to be recent because this is just happening now..
IN
Inactive
26 Nov 2011
Thor, So sorry to hear about you're doc difficulties, was he/she American or other. I have found that makes a big difference at the most inopportune times... I think it might be cultural or mathematical. Anyway, I have Actavis Ativan 1 mg tabs. Seem to be okay with me, but u and I know, everyone is different. I feel for you honey, seems like my panic attacks are in full blossom now. Why? Dunno. Ain't life grand, and all we want is to be happy. And, as I weave my way through the narcotic maze, I find I need more info on onset of action and duration of Fentanyl patched... wtf? Best wishes Thor, God knows we need all the help and support we can get. Peace out,
Votes: +0
TH
Thor283
26 Nov 2011
Hi Laura,
He is American.
I know we're all different, and I was very surprised when I once heard a man say he got Mylan Xanax one month and he knew he was in trouble because Mylan is the worst. I think Mylan is the best as far as Benzos go. I'm not saying with anything else because I don't know. But from way back in 1993 when I used to take Valium I noticed Mylan Valium was better than NB Valium. And that's odd because usually NB anything is better. But for me the Mylan Benzos are always best.
Maybe these Actavis Ativan were at their expiration date. IDK. Or maybe I was on the verge of a panic attack. I have a lot going on. All I know is I wasn't feeling those pills. They were making me drowsy, and usually Ativan doesn't do that to me, but they weren't making that shaky feeling inside me go away. And taking more didn't work, but I tried that. So now I'm really in a jam.
If we put anxiety on a scale of 1 - 10 like they do with pain I have been at 5 or more anxiety for several months. He's been giving me 10 of the 1 mg Klonopin each month. They usually only last 1 - 2 weeks. I never thought Klonopin was that great for anxiety but it worked better than these Actavis Ativan. I guess the only thing that makes sense is they were near or slightly past expiration date. I guess the 2 mg tabs is not in great demand. I just didn't feel them. But I never had a problem with the 2 mg Mylan. I used to even cut them into quarters and they still worked. It's pretty easy to tell when anxiety goes away. The inside jumpiness stops.
Unless maybe my Blood Pressure went way up. They feel almost the same. But I didn't think of that.
IN
Inactive
26 Nov 2011
Thor, Believe me or not, but I find Propranolol 10 mg x 3 a day works wonders for the symptomatic relief of all the somatic stuff that goes along with anxiety. Since it's just a small amount of a beta blocker, and has a trillion uses... ie, palpitations, shakiness(on the inside and outside), high BP... lots of symptoms can be relieved ... might wanna ask for some of those. Certainly wouldn't hurt. I am really upset ethics the way your stupid focus is treating you. Lemme think some more, I'll get back to u. PEACE,
TH
Thor283
26 Nov 2011
I'm not sure what propranolol is, but I quickly looked it up and it seems to be a drug that effects the heart. I wouldn't want my reg doc prescribing it for me, and I don't have a cardiologist I like. but if I ever get to see one I'll ask him. From what you're saying it sounds similar to Clonidine. It lowers BP but it has many useful side effects. Do you take Propranolol for HBP or for it's side effects?
IN
Inactive
27 Nov 2011
I have a friend on a beta blocker, I think Tenorman, and she had MAJOR panic attacks several times a day. You could see them, her face and neck would get all blotchy and nasty, thinking that she was coming down with hives, but it was panic. Anyhow, her doctor put her on the beta blocker, and she has not had one panic attack in over two years!! She calls it her miracle drug. I don't think that it will interfere with your heart, and you should check with your primary about that one.
Also, as far as for you very caring pain doc is concerned, the reason clonazapam worked better for you was because the half life was much longer on that drug than the ativan. Even if you don't choose to change doctors, tell him to put you back on clonazapam. good luck! I know that the holidays always bring up anxiety. I have my two kids here this weekend, and I"m a nervous wreck. I love them more than life itself, but it's just too much to deal with them in this kind of pain.
This time of year is hard on almost everyone. It's the highest time for suicide attempts and success. There is something about the holidays that is unfulfilling for almost everyone.
IN
Inactive
27 Nov 2011
I take propranolol for non heart or BP related stuff... like panic attacks and anxiety... Just saying!
Hi Thor, you must have missed my answer to your reply last night, about using CVS for a pahrmacy. They really will order what brand you need or want of most of your meds. I too believe they work differently. I kind of figured it was always do to my allergies to some of the fillers or something, but with xanax esepecailly, I find the purepac the only brand that actually woks. Now like I said before, you have to give them notice before a refill, or another thing you can do is request they order the brand you have to have, & just have enough of the other brand from you prescription filled say 4 days worth or whatever the pharmatist tells you it will take to order the brand you want. You may have to put up with the other for a few days. You do never have to have the whole prescription filled at one time. You can usually request a certain # of days or weeks etc... A thought to keep in mind for next time.
I say this with my own states rules which I find are more FDA laws not state laws concerning all of this.One other subjuect I'd like to touch one is I totally believe we have to be proactive in our health care or someone is going to accidently kill us one of these days, but there is a fine line betwwn being proactive & having an actual anxiety attack to prove you need a certain prescription!I have found over the years if you let your doctor think or lead him into thinking he knows more & best, in a round about way you get your way better. I'm not sure if it makes them feel smater or what, but it seems to work better if you don't go in stating you have to have this or that or yo'll just die or something! Makes one look like they are already addicted to something, & with some of these docs you never know. They may have had a patient OD on the certain drug you are seeking. That would generally tend to make them hesitant to prescribe it to someone else. Just some more food for thought my friend, as usual I wish you the best...
Votes: +1
TH
Thor283
26 Nov 2011
Mary,
I'm glad you brought this up. I used to deal exclusively with CVS. I switched to a small privately owned pharmacy because they're across the street and they promised to take care of my special needs. I'm worth a lot to a small pharmacy as a customer because most months I use almost $1000 in meds. Especially when I get the Lidoderm. If I had been willing to wait a few days they probably would have ordered the Mylan.
But now this thing about partial scripts with controlled substances, I just don't get it. I've been told it's not true. I've been told they can't do a partial with a controlled substance. But this month they didn't have the 30 Provigil so they gave me 15 and owe me 15. So what is this, they can only do it when they want to? I don't get it. I thought they were doing me a special favor.
If I thought they can legally do a partial fill on Ativan then I would have asked for 3 or 4 and asked for them to order the rest. That script should have lasted a long time. The last time I had Ativan 2 mg it was Mylan and they lasted almost 1.5 months. These are almost gone already. I just don't feel them. I feel drowsy but the anxiety is still there.
I'm in trouble.
BL
bloxham
26 Nov 2011
Thor, It sounds like this doctor is trying to taper you down or just keep keep 15 on the books rather than 30 because it looks better. Have you tried cutting the pills in half or quarters to make them last longer? As far as brand goes everyone reacts differently to each buffer that is put in a particular brand..at this point I do not think the doctor will refill your medication so you will have to make due with what you have and try to keep positive thoughts. Anything is better than nothing. Right? Try taking half a pill and use breathing techniques. In the mean time it may be best to start to look for a new doctor. It sounds as if this doctor is not going to be a big help.
Votes: +1
IN
Inactive
26 Nov 2011
Thor, I'm really sorry to say this, but when people lie, they forget what they said. When they are telling the truth, the obviously remember what they said. Being that your doctor conveniently forgot that he said 30 pills last time, and now is saying 15 benzo's this time, I have to say that he is doing anything he can to get rid of you. (No offense to you, doctors don't like 'problem' patients). I have been to a doctor like this before, until he finally FIRED me, which really put me in a bind as PM doctors want to know why you are kicked out of a practice. they don't understand that the previous doctor just didn't want to deal with you anymore. Therefore, you have to leave him before he leaves YOU. Besides, he obviously is NOT meeting your needs. Isn't that the purpose of a doctor, to heal, not cause more anxiety??
I feel really bad for you in that regard, but i implore you to please start looking for another doctor. Next time you see him, he will tell you that he has made a new policy not to give benzo's to pain patients. I had a PM doctor like that also. I realize that these "humans" do not come a dime a dozen, but at one point I was having to drive two hours EACH TIME to get to a doctor!! My husband had to take off of work one day a month,, as I simply can't drive that far without falling asleep. (I have such bad pain, that I simply cannot sleep through the night, and if I get five good hours, I am thrilled!)
Please find another doctor. You might be pleasantly surprised at the results!
good luck Thor. I understand your hesitancy to switch doctors, and also to use supplements, but at this point in the game, does it matter what brand of 15 pills he is giving you for THREE MONTHS worth?? You need someone who cares about your welfare far better than that. Ellen
Votes: +3
IN
Inactive
26 Nov 2011
Very well said Ellen. Enjoyed reading your answer, have a good one,
TH
Thor283
26 Nov 2011
Hi Ellen,
I'm not loyal to this guy. I just don't have money to go to different doctors. And oddly enough usually pdoc's don't want to treat anxiety with Benzos. My last pdoc gave me Zyprexa for anxiety. Very small doses. I didn't like Zyprexa. Maybe because I'm not psychotic. It's usually General Internists that treat anxiety with Benzos. Isn't it. My last doc was an angel. I also find the generic Bupe causes anxiety where as the NB Bupe used to make it go away. In the last 10 years I have not needed a Benzo as often as I have since I went on generic Bupe. And now I hear they are slowly trying to do away with NB Subutex. I even heard they plan to do away with NB Suboxone Tabs. I heard the co. wants everyone taking the film strips. I was told it's Recket Benister (sp) doing this themselves. They want everyone taking the film strips because they probably have the best patent on the strips. But this is all hearsay. I don't know if it's true.
IN
Inactive
26 Nov 2011
And Thor, no offense taken PLEASE, but I wish that they would bring the old oxy's back, they were my g-dsend, but it just ain't happening is it? And how do you know what another doctor will give you if you don't give them a chance?
LA
Larsy1966
29 Nov 2011
I completely understand what you are going through. I live in the USA and they did stop making name brand subutex. I've been calling around to every pharmacy. Last month I got lucky and found 30 2 mg pills. Now I can't find it anywhere and the teva brand is on back order until the end of January and that's the only other one I can take because the other generic gives me severe anxiety and suboxone makes me sick. My psychiatrist who put me on this medication 3 years ago told me it was not addicting. I had no idea what I was taking but it made me feel better. If I would have researched the drug more I would have never taken it. Do you know what he told me to do? He told me to find a doctor that will prescribe to me vicodin or hydrocodone because he believes that I need this medication.
I just got off the phone with a pharmacist that called me back and she said that I need to call my doctor and he needs to find a doctor who will prescribe this for me or help me because he put me on it in the first place. His office manager is supposed to call me tomorrow to see if she can squeeze me in but I don't want to pay $100.00 for him to tell me there's nothing he can do. My brother and sister-in-law are expecting a baby any day now and the holidays are coming. I will be so sick that I don't know what I will do and I'm scared to death because last year around this time is when they took me off cold turkey in the hospital and I didn't get out of bed for 11 days and couldn't even function when I got home. I'm just a mess now. I had a lot of subutex when I checked into the hospital but my mom said she got rid of it all and I think she did. What a mess. :(
LA
Larsy1966
29 Nov 2011
I'm sorry. I think I posted under the wrong post. I didn't see all the answers below. I just wanted to add that I take generic klonopin and since I've been getting it from a different pharmacy they look different and seem to work better but I still get bad anxiety. It's a nightmare when you're so anxious that you need to take something but then you need to function but then are so tired and still feel anxious. I don't know.
