Posted by Rick on August 12, 1999, at 20:54:33
In reply to Re: Is Klonopin really superior to generic Clonazepam?, posted by Delia on August 12, 1999, at 14:41:45
Well here's MY latest update to the Klonopin availability story. It's a good news/bad news situation which really neither supports nor disproves any of the theories flying around.
As I said in the earlier thread about branded Klonopin availability, I had my first prescription (1mg's) filled about two weeks ago, with no problem, at Chicago-Area Walgreen's "A". The pdoc had even specified "can substitute", but I asked for the real thing and got it. When I later went to Walgreen's "B" near my office for a new, larger (90-count twice-refilllable) prescription, only 59 were available. After initially being told the remainder would be mailed to be within a few days (it wasn't), I was told last night that there are "supply problems", and that they basically had no idea when more would be available.
Meanwhile, today, I was back at Walgreen's A. They seemed very willing, even anxious, to discuss the situation with me. Ironically, A is now "temporarily out of stock" on ALL Klono, even the 1's. But the pharmacist told me the biggest supply problems have been with the .5's.
Meanwhile, they called over to Wags B for me, which reorted they are all out of .5's but had received the overdue 1's and mailed them to me today (BTW, WITHOUT the promised call to me, at least as of yet).
The pharmacist at A feels very sure the shortages represent a temporary production delay as Roche tries to match supply to demand for its various products.
I hope she's right, but who knows? Maybe I managed to get my order completed due to a combination of pressure on my part plus the luck of using a high-clout store located within a few miles of Walgreen's national headquarters.
Rick
--------> Chemically the brands are supposed to be (I think have to be) the same as far as the active ingredients. My nurse explains that the inert ingredients that whoever uses to make the pills can react differently in different people, increasing or decreasing the efficacy of the drug in a susceptible person.
>
> I think everyone should push back on the pharmacies, insuranance companies, pharmaceutical companies, etc, if you have any doubt (OR FEAR OR CONCERN) that the brand name isn't as good for you.
>
> I take generics for MANY of my drugs, such as my lithium. They have performed as well, so I am happy.
>
> The Klonopin DOES NOT perform as well, I became symptomatic again.
poster:Rick
thread:9892
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990814/msgs/9975.html