The subject of generic carbidopa/livodopa versus brand sinemet (c/l) was discussed on the old BT, but this matter raised its head again when I ordered my newest script. My mail away ins. pharmacy held my order while they tried to contact my neuro. to get him to OK a generic sub. for the more expencive branded sinemet. I was started origanlly on generic (TEVA) carb/livo and had little to no symptomatic releaf. So I had my neuro write my next script for the brand name (BMS) and found it works much
better. Have any of you found generics dont work as well? I thought at first that it was just a bad bottle of pills but I had 3 refills and found no difference in the way it worked. The brand (BMS) sinemit seems to work better all the time.
I have found only two generics, TEVA and SANDOZ that offer carb/livo. Does anyone have another mfg? Generics are fine if they work and they are much cheaper but I'll pqy the added expence for something that works. I had a bad experance with Stalevo also.
Does anyone else have trouble with generics?
GERALDO

I don't remember the name of the first generic Sinemet I took but it worked pretty well. Then my pharmacy/insurance company switched to one made by Actavis and it's basically crap. I noticed a huge difference right away. Like you, I thought maybe I got a bad batch but the next refill had the same results. I really notice the difference when I take a Parcopa (orally dissolving Sinemet). The difference is HUGE!

I take Remeron and Xanax for depression/anxiety/sleep and can only take the brand name because the generics make me sick as a dog.

I'm amazed at just how different the generics are from the brands and how our body's certainly know the difference!

Todd
PDTalks.com

I started out on the TEVA brand, and it made me worse..When I tried BMS I got results

ENDO is another generic brand, and I have heard a few folks say that they had trouble with generic brands, but that ENDO did work for them..I havent tried it myself

Thanks Steve for jogging my memory - my first generic was ENDO and it worked great. Damn insurance companies...

Todd
PDTalks.com

Had a months supply of generic early on, maybe three months after diagnosis. noticed a huge difference immediately. My GP reinstated the branded Sinemet because she could SEE the difference. Her theory on it was that the base used to hold the drug was not so soluble and passed into part of the digestive tract where it could not be absorbed in the way that sinemet is, that many generic drugs had similar problems.

Lindy

Hey Geraldo, nice to see you back!
I was once given Madopar, which is the "European" levadopa brand, and although it's pretty good, Sinemet is still better. The same dose of Sinemet is a bit stronger and therefore more reliable in stress situations.

Thanks to all,
Is ENDO still mfg'ed? I searched the FDA orange book for generics and it was not listed. The way the large pharama's merge/buy/sell each other its hard to tell. I ask my doc if there was a list of gen's to choose from ,she said she diidnt know. I'm going to inform them about the fda orange book on my next visit.
I think its important that new PD'ers know that not all generics are created equal and are not as effective as the real thing. Too bad they dont allow samples so they can be tried before purchased. Does anyone know if the FDA ever reviews generics for their effectiveness?
geraldo

The Endo brand is still made.It is ayellow oblong pill.Endo is owned by Merck.the maker of Sinemet.Most of the other mfg sell there product at a cheaper price so discount operations do not favor Endo.

just a thought--we could all write to TEVA Pharm scientists and apprise them of the disparity btn their generic drug and the non generic form of sinemet. I am certain the researchers who work on the production of this drug would be very interested in finding out the problem; the researchers I have known are very proud of their products. besides no drug company wants this kind of publicity about their product being disseminated thru the very community they serve....if interested, you could complete the form found on this link:

http://www.teva.co.il/contact/

or contact the company via telephone--the neuroscience center is listed last.

Company Telephone Fax
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA
Pharmaceutical development
manufacture and marketing
1090 Horsham Rd. P.O.B. 1090
North Wales, PA 19454
USA +1-215-5913000 +1-215-5918600

Plantex USA
API Marketing
2 University Plaza, Suite 305
Hackensack
NJ 07601
USA +1-201-343-4141 +1-201-343-3833

Teva Sicor
Pharmaceutical development
manufacture and marketing
19 Hughes
Irvine, CA 92618
USA +1-800-729-9991 (Toll Free) +1-949-855-8210

Teva Neuroscience
Innovative pharmaceuticals
901 E. 104th Street, Suite 900
Kansas City, MO 64131
USA +1-816-5085000 +1-816-5085016