For those of you who take Cellcept, have you noticed anything different in your MG symptoms since switching from Brand name CellCept to Generic?

I have been on Cellcept for 4 years and my MG was under control. I began feeling MG symptoms again around late May and that was when I switched from Name Brand Cellcept to Generic. I am seeing a MG specialist on Wednesday and just wondering if anyone else has noticed anything different when they switched.

I am probably reaching but I am very in tune with my body and can usually pinpoint when something has an effect on my MG. It's just strange to me that after years of being on a treatment therapy of Mestinon, Cellcept and IVIG that my condition has changed like it has. This one has had me stumped for a few months now.


Thanks

He Shari,

I don't take cellcept, but I've heard others say they do better on the brand name. I've heard others say they have fewer side effects from the brand name Mestinon as opposed to the generic. Maybe others will post soon and have more info for you. Take care and feel better.

Hugs,
Pat

Hi Shari
Go down the thread list and look to 9/2/09. Someone posted a question similar to yours about generic cellcept. It contains good information on this subject.

I take the brand name Cellcept instead of generic. I personally want the drug that has been through rigorous testing. Might not be anything to that but I'm just that way.

JJ

Thanks,
I feel the same way about this for some reason.When I called my Neuro a few months ago for a refill for Cellcept, I asked them to make sure it was the Brand name. I picked it up from the Pharmacy and it was the Brand Name but the next time I went to pick up my refill, the pharmacy said that my insurance company would only fill it with the generic. I want the brand name now to see if in fact it does work better for me. It's my right to get the medication I want. I don't care about the money.

Hi Shari,
New to the threads here...hope I'm doing this right! Anyway, I've been dealing with ocular MG now for about 30 years. I have tried just about every imaginable treatment/medicine available. I recently started Cellcept about 4 years ago as well, and has worked for me really well. I got down to 15MG every-other-day of prednisone because of it. I've never been that low on prednisone. Well, my insurance company then switched me to the generic version (Mycophenolate Mofetil) about 4 months ago and my condition gradually worsened. I had to up my prednisone to a maximum of 80MG a day to no avail. My doctor then suggested that I try an IVIG treatment (very expensive) to put the MG into remission. It worked...thankfully. I mentioned to the doctor about the insurance company generic switch, which prompted him to scrutinize my blood work that I have done frequently. Well surprise...surprise, my blood work showed a steady decline in various areas since the "switch". He immediately called my insurance company to let them know this and to out me back on non-generic Cellcept. He also told them that they are now fronting the bill for the IVIG treatment, which cost $20,000, because of this. Go figure...about 3-4 days later I received cellcept in the mail! So yes, Cellcept is far superior to the the generic version, at least in my case it is. I would suggest that you talk this over with your doctor.