Parkinson's Disease Support Group
Parkinson's disease is a movement disorder often characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement, and in extreme cases, a loss of physical movement. The primary symptoms of Parkinsons are due to excessive muscle contraction, normally caused by the insufficient formation and action of dopamine, which is produced in the dopaminergic neurons of the...
I don't know if this is a topic that's been addressed before, but here goes:
For the last couple months I've been experiencing an increase in anxiety & depression. It was gradual at first, with a decreasing ability to concentrate on reading, writing, & definitely 'rithmetic. I knew it was time to give my doc an SOS call when I had some fleeting suicidal thoughts. Then I had a EUREKA! moment. About 2 months ago I let myself get talked into ordering my generic Zoloft through the mail from Medco. Could that have made a difference?
I googled the manufacturer of the medco pills & discovered they were made in India, whereas the generic Zoloft I'd been getting from my local pharm for years is manufactured in a Phizer-approved lab in Michigan. I called medco & talked to one of their pharmacists. Asked her lots of questions she often tried not to answer, then called my doc. He called in a new rx to my local pharm. After 5 days on the US-made generic for Zoloft, I'm finally feeling back to - well I'd like to say NORMAL, but "back to my old self" will have to do.
I could be more specific with details, but basically learned there's a much larger margin of error inherent with outsourced meds. Part of the reason is that they're quality control-tested (supposedly according to USDA requirements) in the country of manufacture, then go straight to your home - no in-country USDA oversight at all. Not all outsourced meds are untrustworthy - and the bad ones can come to us from any country, not just India. But my doc said it's not the first time he's been up against this.
In my research I found a discussion thread about Zanax, where people were getting outsourced pills that in some cases were little more than sugar pills, and in others, actually made people sick (nausea, headaches). I find this very troubling.
For the last couple months I've been experiencing an increase in anxiety & depression. It was gradual at first, with a decreasing ability to concentrate on reading, writing, & definitely 'rithmetic. I knew it was time to give my doc an SOS call when I had some fleeting suicidal thoughts. Then I had a EUREKA! moment. About 2 months ago I let myself get talked into ordering my generic Zoloft through the mail from Medco. Could that have made a difference?
I googled the manufacturer of the medco pills & discovered they were made in India, whereas the generic Zoloft I'd been getting from my local pharm for years is manufactured in a Phizer-approved lab in Michigan. I called medco & talked to one of their pharmacists. Asked her lots of questions she often tried not to answer, then called my doc. He called in a new rx to my local pharm. After 5 days on the US-made generic for Zoloft, I'm finally feeling back to - well I'd like to say NORMAL, but "back to my old self" will have to do.
I could be more specific with details, but basically learned there's a much larger margin of error inherent with outsourced meds. Part of the reason is that they're quality control-tested (supposedly according to USDA requirements) in the country of manufacture, then go straight to your home - no in-country USDA oversight at all. Not all outsourced meds are untrustworthy - and the bad ones can come to us from any country, not just India. But my doc said it's not the first time he's been up against this.
In my research I found a discussion thread about Zanax, where people were getting outsourced pills that in some cases were little more than sugar pills, and in others, actually made people sick (nausea, headaches). I find this very troubling.
So crazy that they do this. Very glad that you are doing better. Sorry it happened to you, but very thankful that you thought to research it.
Hugs-RJ
I buy my blood pressure pill as a generic. Once I got my mail order pills from a manufacturer called "Lupin". Had a HUGE difference. I felt so dizzy and disoriented every time I would take one. Then I also called the mfgr and it was located in Maine. The person that answered had an "Indian" accent (our SIL is from India so I know how that sounds). Anyway, she told me it was a company from India and they were also made in India !! (probably no quality control)
So then I also talked to the local pharmacist about this. He told me that with generic meds they are not always the exact same mg as brand name drugs. There can be a margin of 1 mg either way sometimes and they are still legal to sell in the USA.
Anyway, I have this marked not to give me Lupin mfgr on my record at the pharmacy now. I do not do mail order any longer because these pills are cheap. Then I was also told if you go to various pharmacies you will find that no two of them will ever have the same mfgr with generics. This is true because I called around to different ones and the generic mfgrs were all different for my pill.
Not sure what is going on but this really concerns me alot. I am sure that if you & I have had this happen others are also. It is scarey to think we are taking meds in our bodies that the mg all fluctuate from one mfgr to another. I had a friend at a company where I used to work that had epilipsy. Her neuro told her to never, ever accept a generic for her med----that when dealing with brain disorders like that it was important to always stay on the exact mg.
So this must be going on all over the place. I know the generics are alot cheaper but are they worth this concern --- I wonder??
We always get our prescription drugs at our local pharmacy who has been in business for over 50 years and I feel they are safe. I don't understand how you can order drugs through the mail or internet without a prescription or are they non-prescription drugs you are ordering? . I wouldn't think of ordering meds from India or outside of the US would be safe. Aren't their laws different than yours or mine?
It is my feeling that you should stick to buying them in your own country unless you know what you are getting into.
I had similar problem but with Mirapex i noticed that the generic Pramipexole does not work as fast a the Mirapex.. Last year i could get it if Dr say is necessary . But this year Medicare refuse to pay for it so I have to take the generic. I will see where is made ,will research. Zlatica
Brer T
Makers of Mirapex are being sued for billions, for not warning that the drug can cause compulsions and destructive addictions, to sex and gambling, etc.
There was some research, shakily and feebly stating that Mirapex causes these problems, but there was no research whatsoever saying that Sinemet caused the same problems.
Suddenly, just as the first warnings of a shortage of Sinemet were announced in Europe in late 2009, they started printing a warning on Sinemet, almost word-for-word the same as the warning for Mirapex, about these dangerous side effects.
I encourage reading the whole aticle if you can get it.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20100128/parkinsons_100128/20100128?hub=Canada
Thank you for the article you posted, troubling tho it may be. But I'm not sure I understand why companies are cutting back on manufacturing sinemet. To drive up the price? I don't think they have to worry about being sued since the drug has been generic for a long time. And is there some kind of watchdog site that can help us know which manufacturers to avoid?
Bari
Bari
Some insurance companies offer mail order for drugs and give a lower rate that way. Yes, the doctor calls or faxes in a prescription to the mail order company (it is a pharmacy on a large scale).
Actually I call around to different pharmacies to get the cheapest price. Going to a local pharmacy usually will cost you more because they buy drugs in smaller quantities than the big chains. Not matter where you go---local or the big chains there are strict standards they all must follow. So one is not safer than another.
I will say that pharmacies like Walmart has or many discount stores do offer many common drugs for only $4.00 per month. Again it is cheaper the bigger the store.
Hope this has helped you understand Lynnie----best wishes.
Thanks for the explanation. It is too bad though that you have to shop around to get cheaper drugs, but you have to do what you have to do. It doesn't really pay for me to buy at Walmart since I live in a small town where there isn't a Walmart. Our benefits help tremendously and now that I am a senior it helps too.
I am pretty thrifty in many other ways.......lol.
Thanks again,
LYNN
If you order drugs on-line you have to be especially careful because they can come from all over the world and may be a slightly different formula, or old or expired drugs, or even in some cases, some people found out they were getting sugar pills. This can happen with name brands bought on line also.
You should also be aware that in the USA it is technically illegal to import drugs from other countries. However, this administration is not enforcing the law in most cases.
Here is an article on buying drugs online.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/fda-warns-consumers-dangers-buying-prescription-drugs-online/story?id=17352895